ghosting

noun

ghost·​ing ˈgō-stiŋ 

1

: a faint double image on a television screen or other display

also : the formation of such images

Such displays tend to suffer from ghosting, which shows up as extraneous lines on screen.

—Consumer Reports

2

informal : the act or practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with someone (such as a former romantic partner) usually without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc.

Romeo one minute, where'd he go the next? Ghosting is when you go poof and literally disappear out of someone's life without a word or explanation.

—Samantha Burns

"It's the fear of missing out on the thing, or person, that is coming next. … It may be a little mean, but we're dating; it's not like we're in a relationship," said one anonymous online dater in defense of ghosting.

—Chelsea Frisbie

see also ghost entry 2 sense 3

Examples of ghosting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, the ghosting of Biden may have to become a stiff-arm from Harris herself in these final days if her bid to block Trump is to have even odds. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024

Those doing the ghosting may feel relief, guilt, both simultaneously or apathy, Vilhauer said. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 18 Aug. 2024

Dating is now a world of ghosting and situationships, breadcrumbing and lovebombing, catfishing and wokefishing. —Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 21 July 2024

Live Paper is actually designed to solve some of the weaknesses of E Ink — particularly its slow refresh rate and the ghosting that leaves faint impressions of stuff on the screen for too long. —David Pierce, The Verge, 20 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1