changeling

noun/ˈtʃeɪndʒlɪŋ/

Frequency rank: #18,960 most common English word

Meaning

A child secretly exchanged for another, especially a fairy child left in place of a stolen human baby in folklore.

Illustration for the English word “changeling”

Example sentence

The old folktale warned that fairies might leave changeling in place of a stolen human child.

Synonyms & related words

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