apparition

noun

ap·​pa·​ri·​tion ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən 

1

a

: an unusual or unexpected sight : phenomenon

strange apparitions in the sky

b

: a ghostly figure

reported seeing ghostly apparitions in the old house

2

: the act of becoming visible : appearance

the apparition of sunlight through the window

apparitional

ˌa-pə-ˈri-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

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

Examples of apparition in a Sentence

an eccentric who claimed to have photographed an apparition in her very own house

Recent Examples on the Web

To have a follower recount a feat of superhuman strength, or even an apparition, is hard for a layperson to fathom but has the advantage of having happened in the past and out of the view of nonbelievers. —Michelle Weber, Longreads, 8 Nov. 2024

But there can be more to a scary movie than just screaming apparitions or a gradually diminishing number of coeds with a bad sense of self-preservation. —Keith Staskiewicz, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Some have seen a woman's figure lurking in the upstairs sewing room, while another apparition was spotted in the old carriage house. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

More than five million visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe near the site of her apparition in the days ahead of her feast day in 2023, according to estimates shared by the Associated Press. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apparicion, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French appariciun "appearance," borrowed from Medieval Latin appāritiōn-, appāritiō "appearance, supernatural manifestation, Epiphany," going back to Late Latin, "appearance" (Latin, "service, attendance"), from Latin appāri-, variant stem of appārēre "to be visible, be evident, attend, serve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at appear

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

apparition

noun

ap·​pa·​ri·​tion ˌap-ə-ˈrish-ən 

1

: an unusual or unexpected sight

2

: ghost