ghostly

1 of 2

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē 

ghostlier; ghostliest

1

: of or relating to the soul : spiritual

2

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost : spectral

ghostliness noun

ghostly adverb

ghostliness

2 of 2

noun

ghost·​li·​ness

ˈgōstlēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being ghostly

Examples of ghostly in a Sentence

Adjective

A ghostly figure appears in the house at night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Lisa Robertson’s Riverwork draws on all these influences, and many more, to evoke overlapping Parises that chime with one another like a ghostly carillon. — Ange Mlinko, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026

The street, still full of equipment and plastic water bottles, felt quiet and ghostly. — Sarah Shanfield, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

The experience of pilgrimage became a ritual, and there’s a ghostly quality to these pictures. — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The piece follows the fall of the notorious libertine, a reckless womanizer, ignoring many supernatural warnings until a ghostly stone attempts to have its way with his soul. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gostlines, from gostly + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ghostly

• mostly

Kids Definition

ghostly

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē 

ghostlier; ghostliest

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost

ghostliness noun