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

Watson was arrested in April in the island getaway under the territory's firearms law raised the specter of a possible 12-year prison sentence. —Juliette Arcodia, NBC News, 22 June 2024

Loading your audio article Led by a hiring surge in the South Bay, the Bay Area powered to big job gains in May, banishing — at least for now — the ominous specter of a weak labor market and job losses that haunted the region earlier this year. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024

Its invasion of Ukraine has confounded policymakers in the West and raised the specter of an increasingly dangerous, conflict-prone world. —Charles L. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024

But if the broader adventure tourism industry offers any guidance, the specter of death will only fuel demand. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 18 June 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