apparition

noun

ap·​pa·​ri·​tion ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən How to pronounce apparition (audio)
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 adjective

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 Things get weirder from there, with the house turning into a bit of a maze; the discovery of two decaying corpses under the library floor that look a lot like Mulder and Scully; and apparitions to trick the agents into turning on each other. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2023 Simien and his production team craft a delightful recreation of some of Haunted Mansion's most famous rooms, apparitions, and sight gags. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 July 2023 Following the apparitions, Soubirous underwent a series of investigations and was found to be telling the truth, says Catholic Online. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2024 The story was filmed from the POV of the ghost, with the camera moving throughout the house as the apparition. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2024 Related Presence is really a ghost story in which the main ghost isn’t an ethereal apparition but the M.I.A. bonds between parents and children, husband and wife, and the members of a family as a whole. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2024 After her death, Morgan even resorted to necromancy, reviving the People’s Princess (now embodied by Elizabeth Debicki) as an apparition who soothes a disconsolate Charles (Dominic West) and makes peace with a grieving but resentful Elizabeth (Imelda Staunton). Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2023 At least 49 deaths are said to have taken place on the QM since its maiden voyage, and accordingly, legend holds that several areas on board have been home to apparitions. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2023 The story was filmed from the point of view of the ghost, with the camera moving throughout the house as the apparition. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apparition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of apparition was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near apparition

Cite this Entry

“Apparition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apparition. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

apparition

noun
ap·​pa·​ri·​tion ˌap-ə-ˈrish-ən How to pronounce apparition (audio)
1
: an unusual or unexpected sight
2
: ghost

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