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 of specter

• apparition
• ghost
• spirit
• phantom

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, the specter of genocide and famine haunts the region once again. —Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026

Every song becomes a seance, every bump in the night turns into evidence of a specter. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026

The specter of her crush never leaves. —Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

But the aspects of Outcome that resonate have nearly nothing to do with the nonsensical specter of cancel culture. —Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026

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