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 of specter

• apparition
• ghost
• spirit
• phantom

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet the specter of AIDS hangs over him like the Sword of Damocles. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

The specter of the lockout may dissuade owner Bob Nutting from making major changes this offseason. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Thune has begun to raise the specter that the Senate could also be in jeopardy. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2026

There’s the end of the streaming wars on TV and tightening of budgets and changing of models, as well as corporate consolidation and the specter of AI eliminating white-collar work of all kinds. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026

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)

Rhymes for specter

• hector
• lector
• nectar
• rector
• sector
• spectre
• vector
• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector

Kids Definition

specter

noun

spec·​ter

variants or spectre

ˈspek-tər 

1

: ghost

2

: something that bothers the mind