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

That stance had raised the specter of Ukraine and Europe having to stand up to Russian aggression alone. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

Testifying before Congress raised the specter that Fauci could be accused anew of lying — potentially opening the door to efforts by his foes to prosecute him. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 29 July 2026

What audiences see, bathed in stage lighting, is a virtual Cerati materialize almost like a specter that’s just walked through a portal from the great beyond. — Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

And perhaps most importantly, the specter of eugenics reared its ugly head in medical triage protocols, and the devaluing of lives deemed less worthy than others. — Kenny Fries, PEOPLE, 28 July 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