ghostly

1 of 2

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē 

ghostlier; ghostliest

1

: of or relating to the soul : spiritual

2

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost : spectral

ghostliness noun

ghostly adverb

ghostliness

2 of 2

noun

ghost·​li·​ness

ˈgōstlēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being ghostly

Examples of ghostly in a Sentence

Adjective

A ghostly figure appears in the house at night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Who knows—your own ghostly gathering may ignite something that stands the test of time. — Maria Papadouris, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2026

Read on to learn all about the ghostly encounters of Vanessa Hudgens, Lily Collins, Demi Lovato and more. — Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2026

When Brolin’s voice takes on a ghostly presence inside the whale, the emotional insistence grows louder without becoming more persuasive. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

As the 1986 return approached, people who remembered that earlier appearance likely told their children and grandchildren about being awakened before dawn and taken outside to see a huge, ghostly, gleaming object in the sky. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gostlines, from gostly + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ghostly

• mostly

Kids Definition

ghostly

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē 

ghostlier; ghostliest

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost

ghostliness noun