ghost town

noun

: a once-flourishing town wholly or nearly deserted usually as a result of the exhaustion of some natural resource

Examples of ghost town in a Sentence

After all the gold was mined, the place became a ghost town.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Patagonian ghost towns left behind by the oil boom, for example. Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026 Villages in Guajes de Ayala have become ghost towns as residents flee kidnappings and violence, with families separated for years and essential services shuttered. Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 The villages in Guajes de Ayala have become ghost towns filled with vacant homes of people too scared to return. ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026 This year, the district was a ghost town during the days. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ghost town

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ghost town was in 1894

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Cite this Entry

“Ghost town.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghost%20town. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

ghost town

noun
: a town deserted because some natural resource has been used up

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