noun
ectoplasm
EHK-tuh-pla-zuhm
Ectoplasm (noun) means In spiritualism, a mysterious substance said to be given off by a medium's body during a séance. Example: “The photograph supposedly showed ectoplasm streaming from the medium's mouth.”
noun
1
In spiritualism, a mysterious substance said to be given off by a medium's body during a séance.
"Watching as the woman lifted her skirts and flung out ectoplasm, expelled it into a bowl, then brandished it around at her audience wildly."
— Jenni Fagan, Luckenbooth (2021)
"The photograph supposedly showed ectoplasm streaming from the medium's mouth."
2
In biology, the outer, denser layer of a cell's cytoplasm.
"Under the microscope, the amoeba's ectoplasm appeared clear and jelly-like."
How to use ectoplasm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA ghostly, unexplained substance from séances — or, in biology, the outer layer of a cell's cytoplasm.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like ectoplasm.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- ectoplasms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The photograph supposedly showed _____ streaming from the medium's mouth.
Etymology
From "ecto-" ("outside") plus "-plasm" ("formed substance") — the spiritualist sense reflects the belief that this substance emerges from, and appears outside of, the medium's body.
Synonyms
View more →
teleplasm
Rhymes for ectoplasm
See all rhymes for ectoplasm →Frequently asked questions
What does “ectoplasm” mean?
The word “ectoplasm” means in spiritualism, a mysterious substance said to be given off by a medium's body during a séance. In plain terms, a ghostly, unexplained substance from séances — or, in biology, the outer layer of a cell's cytoplasm.
How do you pronounce “ectoplasm”?
“Ectoplasm” is pronounced EHK-tuh-pla-zuhm (/ˈɛktəˌplæzəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “ectoplasm” in a sentence?
Here is “ectoplasm” used in a sentence: “The photograph supposedly showed ectoplasm streaming from the medium's mouth.”
What is another word for “ectoplasm”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ectoplasm” include teleplasm.
What part of speech is “ectoplasm”?
“Ectoplasm” is a noun.
How many meanings does “ectoplasm” have?
“Ectoplasm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in spiritualism, a mysterious substance said to be given off by a medium's body during a séance.
