transfiguration

noun

trans·​fig·​u·​ra·​tion (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌfi-gyə-ˈrā-shən 

-gə-

1

a

: a change in form or appearance : metamorphosis

b

: an exalting, glorifying, or spiritual change

2

capitalized : a Christian feast that commemorates the transfiguration of Christ on a mountaintop in the presence of three disciples and that is observed on August 6 in the Roman Catholic and some Eastern churches and on the Sunday before Lent in most Protestant churches

Did you know?

The Gospels relate that one day Jesus took three disciples up a mountain, where they witnessed his transfiguration into divine form: his face shone like the sun, his garments became brilliantly white, and a voice from heaven proclaimed that this was the son of God. Transfiguration was first used in English as the name of this biblical event, and the Feast of the Transfiguration remains the name of a holy day. So the word has always kept a somewhat religious—and almost always positive—tone. A face may be transfigured by joy, and an "ugly duckling" may be slowly transfigured into a radiant beauty. And as Harry Potter fans know, transfiguration is a subject long taught at the Hogwarts School by Minerva McGonagall.

Synonyms

• changeover
• conversion
• metamorphosis
• transformation

Examples of transfiguration in a Sentence

after his transfiguration into a Buddhist monk, all his family and friends were amazed by his newly found patience and tranquillity

Recent Examples on the Web

For most people born in the past three decades, Maggie Smith became a familiar figure as Minerva McGonagall, the transfiguration professor and deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter movies. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024

Her character was the formidable Hogwarts transfiguration teacher, head of Gryffindor house and, later, headmistress, taking over the latter position from Professor Albus Dumbledore. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024

Here, light, like water, appears to be in a near-constant state of transfiguration between liquid, matter, gas, and air. —Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2024

Perhaps there is no problem, or at least no problem not vastly outweighed by the tang of transfiguration. —Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

transfiguration

noun

trans·​fig·​u·​ra·​tion (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌfig-(y)ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: a great change of form or appearance

especially : a change that beautifies, glorifies, or makes more spiritual

2

capitalized : a Christian festival celebrating Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain as witnessed by three of his disciples