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

• apparition
• bogey
• bogie
• bogy
• familiar spirit
• ghost
• hant [dialect]
• haunt [chiefly dialect]
• materialization
• phantasm
• fantasm
• phantom
• poltergeist
• shade
• shadow
• spirit
• spook
• sprite
• vision
• visitant
• wraith

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

What once looked like a leisurely stroll to a division title now has the specter of collapse around it. —Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024

So in the words of every rapper faced with the ubiquitous specter of haters: Stay mad. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Nov. 2024

In the third installment, Bazmee retains the tropes of the first two Hindi films: a sprawling palatial mansion in which one room has been locked for years because it’s believed that a specter resides there; a royal family hiding secrets; the mysterious dancing Manjulika. —Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

The specter of trade wars would return under the controversial ex-president, who has even proposed jacking up tariffs to fund the complete elimination of federal income tax. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024

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)

Kids Definition

specter

noun

spec·​ter

variants or spectre

ˈspek-tər 

1

: ghost

2

: something that bothers the mind