Definition of phantom
1a : something apparent to sense but with no substantial existence : apparitionb : something elusive or visionaryc : an object of continual dread or abhorrence the phantom of disease and want
2 : something existing in appearance only
3 : a representation of something abstract, ideal, or incorporeal she was a phantom of delight — William Wordsworth
From the M-W Editors
Examples of phantom in a Sentence
The book is about the phantoms that are said to haunt the nation's cemeteries.
The crisis is merely a phantom made up by the media.
Recent Examples of phantom from the Web
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There are 30 TNT stands opening up and another 50 Phantom stands across Sacramento, according to their websites.
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The Phantoms won their third passing tournament championship on Saturday, defeating Upland in the finals of the Bonita tournament.
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Period drama Phantom Thread is due out in fall, and reunites Day-Lewis with his There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson.
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The 60-year-old actor announced his retirement Tuesday, adding that Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming film Phantom Thread (out Dec. 25) will be his last.
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Hamrick prefers to keep Jagger out of the conversation, though, except for phantom mentions.
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The Phantom of the Opera 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15, (2 p.m. is currently sold out, according to the website.
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The grand prize is a DJI – Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter drone while the second prize is a free dozen doughnuts each month for a year.
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Northern Wolf was considered a long shot, but the horse was no phantom either.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phantom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of phantom
Middle English fantosme, fantome, from Anglo-French fantosme phantasm
phantom
Definition of phantom
1 : of the nature of, suggesting, or being a phantom : illusory
2 : fictitious, dummy phantom voters
Examples of phantom in a Sentence
People claim to have seen a phantom ship floating on the lake.
A number of ballots from phantom voters had to be thrown out.
Recent Examples of phantom from the Web
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The building also had quirks about it, including a phantom staircase workers found in the basement ceiling.
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Or what about years ago when SEC officials robbed UCF of a potential victory over Georgia with a phantom offensive pass interference call against the Knights in the final seconds?
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Last weekend’s mind-bending eighth episode, with its nuclear bombs, phantom woodsmen, roach-frogs, and teenage romances, left the audience with plenty to unpack.
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Anjum builds her home in the graveyard where her ancestors are buried—the better to be close to them, and to a phantom sense of community and belonging that she’s denied elsewhere.
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The Muon g-2 experiment that the electromagnet is part of has begun its search for phantom particles, lab officials said.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phantom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of phantom
15th century
PHANTOM Defined for English Language Learners
phantom
playDefinition of phantom for English Language Learners
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: the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people
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: something that is not real and exists only in a person's mind
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: something that is hard to see or achieve
phantom
Definition of phantom for English Language Learners
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: coming from or associated with the world of ghosts
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: not real or true or not based on something real or true
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: not real but felt or experienced as something real
PHANTOM Defined for Kids
phantom
playDefinition of phantom for Students
: an image or figure that can be sensed (as with the eyes or ears) but that is not real
Medical Dictionary
phantom
Medical Definition of phantom
1: a model of the body or one of its parts
2: a body of material resembling a body or bodily part in mass, composition, and dimensions and used to measure absorption of radiations
phantom
fantom
Medical Definition of phantom
: not caused by an anatomical lesion phantom respiratory disorders
Learn More about phantom
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See words that rhyme with phantom Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for phantom Spanish Central: Translation of phantom Nglish: Translation of phantom for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of phantom for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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