changeling

[ cheynj-ling ]

noun

1. a child surreptitiously or unintentionally substituted for another.
2. (in folklore) an ugly, stupid, or strange child left by fairies in place of a pretty, charming child.
3. Philately. a postage stamp that, by accident or intention, has been chemically changed in color.
4. Archaic.
   1. a renegade or turncoat.
   2. an imbecile.

changeling

/ ˈtʃeɪndʒlɪŋ /

noun

1. a child believed to have been exchanged by fairies for the parents' true child
2. archaic.
   1. an idiot
   2. a fickle or changeable person

Word History and Origins

Origin of changeling¹

First recorded in 1545–55; change + -ling ¹

Example Sentences

She won best supporting actress in 2000 for Girl, Interrupted and was nominated for best actress in 2009 for Changeling.

From BBC

That metaphor of the outcast changeling, rejected for who she is at her core by a rigid society, earned a loyal following — and accolades, including an Eisner Award and a National Book Award nomination.

From Los Angeles Times

The curtain has come down on the first season of Apple TV+’s “The Changeling,” a sweeping eight-episode adaptation of Victor LaValle’s 2017 fairy tale horror novel.

From Los Angeles Times

This article contains spoilers for the final two episodes of Season 1 of “The Changeling.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The Changeling” on Apple TV+ is about what happens when a mother comes to believe, perhaps correctly, that the tiny thing she is caring for is no longer her baby.

From New York Times

Related Words

• backup
• replacement
• stand-in
• surrogate