changeling

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changeling

/ˈtʃeɪn(d)ʒlɪŋ/ UK
/ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/ US

Where it comes from

The noun is derived from change + -ling (suffix with the sense ‘immature; small’). Sense 6 (“idiot, simpleton”) is from the idea that foolish children had been left by magical creatures (sense 1).

The adjective is derived from the noun.

noun changelings

European, also, figuratively In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. In British, Irish and Scandinavian mythology the exchanged infants were thought to be those of fairies, sprites or trolls; in other places, they were ascribed to demons, devils, or witches. [S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling.
Similar: oaf, swapling
broadly A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else. When I firſt read Mr. Walker’s Circular Letter to the Arch-deacons, I fancied he intended to give us an Account of thoſe worthy Men, […] But after about ten Years going with this Work, and that the Time of its Birth was come, I ſoon found it to be a perfect Changeling. Inſtead of what I expected it
broadly, informal, rare An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling.
An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter.
Similar: changeling, shape-shifter, shapeshifter, shifter
also, archaic, figuratively A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer. To face the garment of rebellion / With ſome fine colour that may pleaſe the eye / Of fickle changlings and poore diſcontents, / Which gape and rub the elbow at the newes / Of hurly-burly innouation, […]
Similar: turncoat, withersake, apostate, balimbing, butterfly, changeling, defector, runagate, traitor, transfuge, turncloak, turntippet
obsolete An idiot, a simpleton. They alſo obſerue Lunaticks and changelings, and the Coniurer writeth downe their ſayings in a booke, groueling on the ground, as if he whiſperd to the Deuill to tell him the truth, and ſo expoundeth the letter, as it were by inſpiration.
Similar: addle-brain, addlehead, addle pate, airhead, baboon, beanbrain, beetlebrain, beetlehead, berk, bimbo, birdbrain, blockhead

adjective more changeling · most changeling

archaic, rare Changeable, fickle, inconstant, wavering. Away thou changeling motley humouriſt, / Leave me, and in this ſtanding wooden cheſt, / Conſorted with theſe few books, let me lye / In priſon, and here be coffin'd, when I dye.
Similar: changeable, changeful, changeling, dynamic, everchanging, fickle, fluid, inconstant, labile, mobile, moody, shiftable

Translations

Every language

noun infant of a magical creature secretly exchanged for a human infant

Español	niño cambiado
日本語	鬼子 onigo, 取り替え子 torikaeko
中文	調換兒 /调换儿 diàohuànr
Français	changelin, changeling
Deutsch	Dickkopf, Kielkropf, Wechselbalg, Wechselkind
Русский	подме́ныш podményš
العربية	خائن

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Cite this

MLA

"changeling." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/changeling. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

changeling. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/changeling

Chicago

"changeling." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/changeling.

BibTeX

@misc{changeling_2026,
  title = {changeling},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/changeling},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}