apparition

noun

ap·​pa·​ri·​tion ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən 

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

apparitional

ˌa-pə-ˈri-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of apparition

• ghost
• spirit
• phantom

Examples of apparition in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

As the 14-year-old child of a poor family in 1858, Saint Bernadette experienced numerous apparitions of a young woman in a cave or grotto, seemingly the Virgin Mary, asking for a chapel to be built on the site. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026

Our Lady, a revered apparition of the Virgin Mary, asked why Flores-Gomez had stopped singing to her. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026

The small museum, which opened last year, covers the creatures, apparitions and mysteries eluding prosaic explanation. —Adam Kuehl, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Though the governor left little behind to solve the ultimate mystery — where the staircase led —a rare apparition surfaced from Roman Germany, preserved for 2,000 years due to the Romans’ advanced building techniques. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apparicion, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French appariciun "appearance," borrowed from Medieval Latin appāritiōn-, appāritiō "appearance, supernatural manifestation, Epiphany," going back to Late Latin, "appearance" (Latin, "service, attendance"), from Latin appāri-, variant stem of appārēre "to be visible, be evident, attend, serve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at appear

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for apparition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition
• deposition

Kids Definition

apparition

noun

ap·​pa·​ri·​tion ˌap-ə-ˈrish-ən 

1

: an unusual or unexpected sight

2

: ghost