changeling Definition
a child believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents' real child in infancy.
Using changeling: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "changeling" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The myth of the changeling has been a popular theme in folklore.
Example
The couple suspected that their child was a changeling.
Example
The story of the changeling is often used in literature and film.
changeling Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for changeling
Phrases with changeling
Example
The movie tells the story of two girls who were switched at birth and raised by different families.
a fraudulent scheme in which a baby is stolen and replaced with another
Example
The police arrested a group of people involved in a changeling scam.
a child who is different from what the parents expected or hoped for
Example
The parents were disappointed when they realized that their son was a changeling child who did not share their interests.
Origins of changeling
from Middle English 'chaunge', meaning 'to change'
Summary: changeling in Brief
A 'changeling' [ˈtʃeɪndʒlɪŋ] is a child who is believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents' real child in infancy. The concept of the changeling has been a popular theme in folklore, literature, and film. It is also used to describe a child who is different from what the parents expected or hoped for, as in 'The parents were disappointed when they realized that their son was a changeling child.'