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

• apparition
• bogey
• bogie
• bogy
• familiar spirit
• ghost
• hant [dialect]
• haunt [chiefly dialect]
• materialization
• phantasm
• fantasm
• phantom
• poltergeist
• shade
• shadow
• spirit
• spook
• sprite
• vision
• visitant
• wraith

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

More modern sports teams have sold for this reason than because of any fears that the valuations would go down, a specter that follows every NBA sale since Mark Cuban teased the idea in the wake of his unloading the Mavericks. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 July 2024

The specter of a potential return of former president Donald Trump haunts many of the United States’ European allies, and looms closer amid the growing clamor over President Biden’s capacity to win reelection. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 July 2024

Speakers raised the specter of voter fraud — despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud — and urged supporters to become poll watchers and election observers and to turn out other voters for Trump. —Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 8 July 2024

Homeowner groups complained that ED1 projects have been proposed in historic preservation districts, raising the specter of six-story apartment buildings sprouting up next to stately Victorians and rows of Arts and Crafts bungalows. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2024

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)

Kids Definition

specter

noun

spec·​ter

variants or spectre

ˈspek-tər 

1

: ghost

2

: something that bothers the mind