specter

noun

spec·​ter ˈspek-tər 

variants or spectre

1

: a visible disembodied spirit : ghost

2

: something that haunts or perturbs the mind : phantasm

the specter of hunger

Synonyms

• haunt [chiefly dialect]
• ghost
• shadow
• wraith
• phantom
• spook
• apparition

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this year, Trump ordered that certain cartels — including five Mexican syndicates — be designated as foreign terrorist organizations, raising the specter of unilateral US intervention in Latin America. —semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Berg’s documentary makes no allusions to fatal drug use or suicidal tendencies, but the specter of mortality was something Buckley acknowledged throughout his own life. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 6 Aug. 2025

Between the legal threats and the specter of losing federal funding, hospitals around the country are backing away from treating new and, increasingly, existing patients — regardless of the laws in their states. —Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025

Ahead of Trump’s tariff deadline, which countries have a deal — and which don’t? Come Friday, the world will have to contend with higher tariff rates from the Trump administration, raising the specter of even more economic uncertainty. —Ganesh Rao,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French spectre, from Latin spectrum appearance, specter, from specere to look, look at — more at spy

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specter

• raised the specter of
• the specter of (something)

Rhymes for specter

• hector
• lector
• nectar
• rector
• sector
• spectre
• vector
• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector

Kids Definition

specter

noun

spec·​ter

variants or spectre

ˈspek-tər 

1

: ghost

2

: something that bothers the mind