phantasm

noun phan·tasm \ ˈfan-ˌta-zəm \

variants: or less commonly fantasm

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of phantasm

1 : a product of fantasy: such as

a : delusive appearance : illusion

b : ghost, specter

c : a figment of the imagination

2 : a mental representation of a real object

—

phantasmal

play \fan-ˈtaz-məl\ adjective

—

phantasmic

play \fan-ˈtaz-mik\ adjective

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phantasm was our Word of the Day on 10/31/2012. Hear the podcast!

Examples of phantasm in a Sentence

frightened by the phantasms of his own making
believed that she'd seen the phantasm of her father on the anniversary of his death

Recent Examples of phantasm from the Web

But when the team practices in Alexandria, that bullet hole will serve as a dark reminder of the phantasms which long haunt Eugene Simpson Stadium.

— chad pergram, Fox News, "GOP unfinished business on the ball diamond," 26 Apr. 2018
Entire families of the hairy monsters apparently traveled the base’s buildings and corridors, appearing and disappearing at will, and to the bewilderment of base police sent chasing after the phantasms.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Known Unknown: Tales of the Yucca Man," 25 Apr. 2018
As Susan Owens highlights in her new cultural history of ghosts, phantasms and spirits have assumed many guises and taken up numerous causes over the millennia.

— The Economist, "The evolution of the ghost," 28 Oct. 2017
There’s about a second of silence as if everyone were holding their breath — then, bam, the room explodes in a phantasm of whirling red lights and soaring music and everyone crying out all at once and lifting their hands in the air.

— heather chaplin, Cosmopolitan, "The Steamy Hookup That Saved Me After My Marriage Died," 7 Sep. 2017
Over the years many have reported glimpsing ghosts and phantasms amid the shadows of this labyrinthine mansion, with its 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, 40 staircases, 13 bathrooms and nine kitchens.

— karen d'souza, The Mercury News, "Helen Mirren, filming in San Jose, marvels at ‘inspiring’ Winchester Mystery House," 5 May 2017
As for Patty Hearst herself, Toobin treats her as a person, not a tabloid phantasm.

— dana spiotta, New York Times, "The Run of Her Life: Jeffrey Toobin on the Odyssey of Patty Hearst," 10 Aug. 2016
The Thing (1982) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) The Omen (1976) PhantasmHalloween (1978) Friday the 13th American Werewolf in London Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

— michelle diane mccrary, WIRED, "Introduction to Horror Films — Part 1," 31 May 2012
The restless ghost of the company—its supernatural imprint—will dwell in the space until the end of time, which is a major plus for any phantasm fan.

— richard lawson, Vanities, "Former Trump Models Office Now New York’s Chicest Haunted House," 13 Apr. 2017

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

Did You Know?

The root "phan" comes from Greek verbs that mean "to appear or seem" or "to present to the mind." Does "phan" bring to your mind any other English words, in addition to "phantasm"? Indeed, this root appears in several English words that have to do with the way things seem or appear rather than the way they really are. Phantasmagoria and diaphanous are examples. Also from this root are words such as "fanciful" and "fantasy," in which the imagination plays an important part.

Origin and Etymology of phantasm

Middle English fantasme, from Anglo-French fantosme, fantasme, from Latin phantasma, from Greek, from phantazein to present to the mind — more at fancy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

phantasm Synonyms

Phrases

castle in Spain, castle in the air;

PHANTASM Defined for English Language Learners

phantasm

noun

Definition of phantasm for English Language Learners

: something that exists only in a person's mind

Medical Dictionary

phantasm

noun phan·tasm \ ˈfan-ˌtaz-əm \

medical Definition of phantasm

1 : a figment of the imagination or disordered mind

2 : an apparition of a living or dead person

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phantasm

Definition of phantasm

phantasmal

phantasmic

phantasm was our Word of the Day on 10/31/2012. Hear the podcast!

Examples of phantasm in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of phantasm

phantasm Synonyms

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PHANTASM Defined for English Language Learners

phantasm

Definition of phantasm for English Language Learners

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phantasm

medical Definition of phantasm

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