noun
changeling
CHAYNZH-lihng
Changeling (noun) means In folklore, a fairy or troll child secretly swapped for a human baby. Example: “The old village legend claimed the sickly infant was a changeling left by the fairies.”
noun
1
In folklore, a fairy or troll child secretly swapped for a human baby.
"The old village legend claimed the sickly infant was a changeling left by the fairies."
2
A shape-shifting creature able to take on the appearance of others.
"In the fantasy novel, the changeling infiltrated the court disguised as a nobleman."
How to use changeling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA folklore creature swapped for a human child, or more broadly, a shape-shifter.
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Word forms
- Plural
- changelings
- Comparative
- more changeling
- Superlative
- most changeling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old village legend claimed the sickly infant was a _____ left by the fairies.
Etymology
From change + the suffix -ling, which often denotes something small or immature.
Related words
Rhymes for changeling
feeling
peeling
reeling
fueling
dueling
kneeling
modeling
wheeling
yodeling
labeling
traveling
unfeeling
See all rhymes for changeling →
Frequently asked questions
What does “changeling” mean?
The word “changeling” means in folklore, a fairy or troll child secretly swapped for a human baby. In plain terms, a folklore creature swapped for a human child, or more broadly, a shape-shifter.
How do you pronounce “changeling”?
“Changeling” is pronounced CHAYNZH-lihng (/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “changeling” in a sentence?
Here is “changeling” used in a sentence: “The old village legend claimed the sickly infant was a changeling left by the fairies.”
What part of speech is “changeling”?
“Changeling” is a noun.
How many meanings does “changeling” have?
“Changeling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in folklore, a fairy or troll child secretly swapped for a human baby.
