chameleon

UK: /kəˈmiːliən/ US: /kəˈmiliən/ ,(kə mē′lē ən, -mēl′yən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cha•me•le•on /kəˈmiliən/   n. [countable]

1. Reptiles a slow-moving lizard having the ability to change color to match its surroundings.
2. a person who changes his or her mind too easily or who is fickle.

cha•me•le•on•like, adj.: 

their chameleonlike ability to shift opinion.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cha•me•le•on  (kə mē′lē ən, -mēl′yən), n. 

1. Reptiles any of numerous Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.
2. Reptiles any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, esp. Anolis carolinensis (American chameleon,) of the southeastern U.S.
3. a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.
4. (cap.) [Astron.] Chamaeleon.

• Latin, as above
• Middle French
• Greek chamailéōn, equivalent. to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to humus) + léōn lion; replacing Middle English camelion
• Latin
• 1300–50; variant of chamaeleon

cha•me•le•on•ic  (kə mē′lē on′ik), adj.  cha•me′le•on•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chameleon / kəˈmiːlɪən/ noun

1. any lizard of the family Chamaeleontidae of Africa and Madagascar, having long slender legs, a prehensile tail and tongue, and the ability to change colour
2. a changeable or fickle person

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileōn, from khamai on the ground + leōn lion

chameleonic / kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk/ adjective