specter

noun

spec·​ter ˈspek-tər 

variants or spectre

1

: a visible disembodied spirit : ghost

2

: something that haunts or perturbs the mind : phantasm

the specter of hunger

Synonyms of specter

• apparition
• ghost
• spirit
• phantom

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

While the president’s name wasn’t said onstage Sunday, the specter of Colbert’s exit hung heavy in the auditorium. —Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025

Otto also raised the specter of TikTok, the social media giant partially under the control of Larry Ellison. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025

By Tuesday, only several hundred votes separated Asfura and Nasralla, as election website problems raised the specter of challenges and protests ahead. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025

When the film does reach modern day, the even more recent specter of the Brazilian dictatorship colors how characters deal with the trauma caused by the events depicted in the film. —Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French spectre, from Latin spectrum appearance, specter, from specere to look, look at — more at spy

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specter

• raised the specter of
• the specter of (something)

Rhymes for specter

• hector
• lector
• nectar
• rector
• sector
• spectre
• vector
• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector

Kids Definition

specter

noun

spec·​ter

variants or spectre

ˈspek-tər 

1

: ghost

2

: something that bothers the mind