phantasm

phan·tasm

noun \ˈfan-ˌta-zəm\

Definition of PHANTASM

1

: a product of fantasy: as

a : delusive appearance : illusion

b : ghost, specter

c : a figment of the imagination

2

: a mental representation of a real object

— phan·tas·mal \fan-ˈtaz-məl\ adjective

— phan·tas·mic \-mik\ adjective

Variants of PHANTASM

phan·tasm also fan·tasm \ˈfan-ˌta-zəm\

Examples of PHANTASM

1. <frightened by the phantasms of his own making>
2. <believed that she'd seen the phantasm of her father on the anniversary of his death>

Origin of PHANTASM

Middle English fantasme, from Anglo-French fantosme, fantasme, from Latin phantasma, from Greek, from phantazein to present to the mind — more at fancy

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PHANTASM

Synonyms

chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, fantasy (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision

Related Words

ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp; brainchild, idea; concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention; envisaging, imaging, visualization; cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia; daymare, nightmare

Near Antonyms

actuality, fact, reality

Rhymes with PHANTASM

orgasm, sarcasm

phan·tasm

noun \ˈfan-ˌtaz-əm\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PHANTASM

1

: a figment of the imagination or disordered mind

2

: an apparition of a living or dead person