poltergeist

noun

pol·ter·geist ˈpōl-tər-ˌgīst

Synonyms of poltergeist next

: a noisy usually mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises (such as rappings)

Did you know?

One of the tricks a poltergeist is known for is making "knocking" noises, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the word poltergeist translates literally from German as "knocking spirit." The German verb poltern means "to knock," and Geist is the German word for "spirit." Another Geist descendant in English is zeitgeist ("the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era"). The English word ghost is also related; it descends from the same ancient root that led to Geist. Although ghost has been used in English since before the 12th century, poltergeist is a relative newcomer, first appearing as an English word in the middle of the 19th century.

Examples of poltergeist in a Sentence

we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Does a person accept, say, poltergeists, but not extrasensory perception? —

Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024 Or might the brook be angry, like a poltergeist deranged by degradation, indignity, and concealment? —

Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 30 Oct. 2024 For all of movie history’s great what-if casting coulda-beens, Beetlejuice might have the best of all of them: Burton wanted Sammy Davis Jr. to play the titular poltergeist. —

Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024 In Louisville, they are regaled with tales of poltergeists like The Lady in Blue at the old Seelbach Hotel, once frequented by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Al Capone. —

N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poltergeist