shapeshift

Shapeshift or shapeshifting is the ability of a being to change its appearance or form. The concept spans folklore, myth, literature, and modern fiction, and is often presented as a deliberate power exercised by individuals, gods, or magical creatures. The word is a compound of shape and shift and has been used in English since the early modern period.

In folklore and myth, shapeshifting appears in many cultures. Well-known examples include werewolves in European legend, kitsune and other shapechanging beings in Japanese folklore, skinwalkers in Navajo tradition, and selkies in Scottish and Irish tales. Shapeshifters are frequently depicted with rules or limits, such as a need for a specific trigger, vulnerability to silver or sunlight, or the possibility of becoming permanently trapped in another form.

In literature and popular media, shapeshifters serve as plot devices and symbolic figures, exploring themes of identity, deception, and transformation. They can reflect anxieties about appearance, power, and authenticity, or function as versatile protagonists capable of adapting to different environments and social roles.

In science and biology, shapeshifting is not a literal phenomenon. Biological processes such as metamorphosis (for example, caterpillars turning into butterflies) and phenotypic plasticity (changes in appearance or behavior in response to the environment) describe real form changes. Some animals, like octopuses and cuttlefish, can rapidly alter texture, color, and shape for camouflage or communication.

See also: shapeshifting in folklore, metamorphosis, illusion, and shape memory.