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Definition of "chameleon" [cha•me•le•on]

  • Any of various tropical Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleonidae, characterized by their ability to change color. (noun)
  • See anole. (noun)
  • A changeable or inconstant person: "In his testimony, the nominee came off as . . . a chameleon of legal philosophy” ( Joseph A. Califano, Jr.) (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "chameleon" in a sentence
  • "One of the most unusual studies we encountered has to do with what we call the chameleon effect."
  • "Chase and others use the word chameleon to epitomize their impressions of McCain's running mate."
  • "Even the smallest chameleon is capable of eating a praying mantis."