phantom

1 of 2

noun

phan·​tom ˈfan-təm 

1

a

: something apparent to sense but with no substantial existence : apparition

b

: something elusive or visionary

c

: an object of continual dread or abhorrence

the phantom of disease and want

2

: something existing in appearance only

3

: a representation of something abstract, ideal, or incorporeal

she was a phantom of delight

—William Wordsworth

phantomlike

ˈfan-təm-ˌlīk 

adverb or adjective

phantom

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of the nature of, suggesting, or being a phantom : illusory

2

: fictitious, dummy

phantom voters

Synonyms

Noun

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

Adjective

• chimerical
• chimeric
• fabulous
• fanciful
• fantasied
• fantastic
• fantastical
• fictional
• fictitious
• ideal
• imaginal
• imaginary
• imagined
• invented
• made-up
• make-believe
• mythical
• mythic
• notional
• phantasmal
• phantasmic
• pretend
• unreal
• visionary

Examples of phantom in a Sentence

Noun

The book is about the phantoms that are said to haunt the nation's cemeteries.

The crisis is merely a phantom made up by the media.

Adjective

People claim to have seen a phantom ship floating on the lake.

A number of ballots from phantom voters had to be thrown out.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On Friday, a team of researchers argued that the fish was a phantom all along. —Jason Nark, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025

Listen to this article San Diego Symphony organ curator Bob Knight will never be mistaken for the phantom of the opera. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2025

Adjective

But that estimate sharply dropped once authorities subtracted the amount of phantom investment gains and interest that Madoff’s customers were duped into believing existed. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024

The taxpayer is already struggling to pay for everyday expenses, and then also has to pay capital gains tax on phantom gains. —Jon Styf | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fantesme, fantosme, fantome, fantom "what only seems to have reality or value, vanity, illusion, apparition, falsehood," borrowed from Anglo-French fantosme, fantasme — more at phantasm

Note: For the etymological relation between this word and phantasm, see the note at the latter word. The spelling with initial ph- is a restoration from the Greek source.

Adjective

Middle English fantom, from attributive use of fantosme, fantom phantom entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing phantom

• phantom limb
• phantom pregnancy

Kids Definition

phantom

1 of 2 noun

phan·​tom ˈfant-əm 

: something (as a ghost) that seems to be there but is not real : apparition

phantom

2 of 2 adjective

1

: suggesting or being a phantom

2

: existing in name only : not real : fictitious

phantom voters

Medical Definition

phantom

1 of 2 noun

phan·​tom

variants also fantom

ˈfant-əm 

1

: a model of the body or one of its parts

2

: a body of material resembling a body or bodily part in mass, composition, and dimensions and used to measure absorption of radiations

phantom

2 of 2 adjective

variants also fantom

: not caused by an anatomical lesion

phantom respiratory disorders