apparition

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noun ap·pa·ri·tion \ ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən \

Definition of apparition

1 a :an unusual or unexpected sight :phenomenon

strange apparitions in the sky

b :a ghostly figure

reported seeing ghostly apparitions in the old house

2 :the act of becoming visible :appearance

the apparition of sunlight through the window

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apparitional

play \-ˈrish-nəl, -ˈri-shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See apparition defined for English-language learners

See apparition defined for kids

Examples of apparition in a Sentence

an eccentric who claimed to have photographed an apparition in her very own house

Recent Examples of apparition from the Web

This leads us into the question, what is this human hunger for these humanoid apparitions?

— National Geographic, "This Man Searched for the Yeti for 60 Years—and Found It," 19 Aug. 2017
Stalking his characters with sinuous camera movements and split-screen surveillance footage, Bonello turns it into the stuff of a waking nightmare, complete with the occasional dreamlike apparition drifting into view.

— justin chang, latimes.com, "Bertrand Bonello's 'Nocturama' is a haunting portrait of young French terrorists in action," 14 Aug. 2017
Students claim to have seen a red apparition floating down the hallways and heard the clicking of the Red Lady’s high heels.

— grace haynes, Southern Living, "10 Haunted Places in the South," 11 July 2017
An apparition holding a ginormous grudge haunts my house.

— by stacey hatton, kansascity.com, "Show them who’s boss by letting the smudging begin," 30 June 2017
One hundred years ago, the sleepy agricultural town of Fátima in Portugal’s Centro region skyrocketed to international renown when three children reported seeing an apparition of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

— chadner navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why You Should Visit Fátima, Portugal's Holy City," 30 May 2017
Two of the three child shepherds who reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, one century ago, will be declared saints on May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis.

— alan taylor, The Atlantic, "Photos of the Week: 5/13–5/19," 19 May 2017
The primary responsibility for authenticating a reported apparition lies with the local bishop.

— francis x. rocca, WSJ, "‘Worthy of Belief’: How the Catholic Church Approves Apparitions," 12 May 2017
Francis is spending fewer than 24 hours in Fatima to celebrate the centenary of the apparitions and canonize two of the three shepherd children.

— nicole winfield, chicagotribune.com, "Pope Francis cheered in Fatima to honor children who urged peace," 12 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apparition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of apparition

Middle English apparicioun, from Anglo-French aparicion, from Late Latin apparition-, apparitio appearance, from Latin apparēre to appear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

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apparition Synonyms

Synonyms

ghost, bogey (also bogie or bogy), familiar spirit, hant [dialect], haunt [chiefly dialect], materialization, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, sprite, vision, visitant, wraith

Related Words

angel, daimon, familiar, genie, genius, jinni (or jinn also djinni or djinn), shaitan; double, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), fetch; lemures, manes; incubus, lamia, succubus, vampire, zombie (also zombi); cacodemon, demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, ghoul, imp

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

APPARITION Defined for English Language Learners

apparition

play

noun

Definition of apparition for English Language Learners

: a ghost or spirit of a dead person

APPARITION Defined for Kids

apparition

play

noun ap·pa·ri·tion \ ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən \

Definition of apparition for Students

1 :ghost

2 :an unusual or unexpected sight

What it was, whether bear or man … the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.
—Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

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apparition

Definition of apparition

apparitional

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Origin and Etymology of apparition

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APPARITION Defined for English Language Learners

apparition

Definition of apparition for English Language Learners

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apparition

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