Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Mutation has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
(genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism
"A random mutation in the DNA sequence can cause a new trait to appear in the offspring."
a change or alteration in form or qualities
"The sudden mutation in the software's interface confused all the users who had grown accustomed to its original design."
Any alteration or change.
"The sudden mutation in our plans caught everyone off guard."
The word mutation entered English in the late 14th century through Old French and directly from Latin. It originally referred to a change or alteration before taking on its modern scientific meaning.