Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
changeling
noun
/ˈtʃeɪn.dʒlɪŋ/
Definition
A changeling is a child believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents’ real child in folklore.
Examples
- The mother was convinced that her son was a changeling because of his strange behavior.
- Folklore often depicts changelings as having a different appearance than their human counterparts.
- In some stories, families would take drastic measures to uncover the truth about a changeling.
Meaning
In folklore, a changeling refers to a fairy child that has been left in place of a human child who was taken by the fairies.
Synonyms
- substitute
- replacement
- impostor
