noun
ghosting
GOHST-ing
Ghosting (noun) means the practice of ending a friendship, romance or working relationship by suddenly cutting off all contact and ignoring every message, without any explanation. Example: “Three good dates and then ghosting, with no reply for a fortnight.”
noun
1
informal The practice of ending a friendship, romance or working relationship by suddenly cutting off all contact and ignoring every message, without any explanation.
"Three good dates and then ghosting, with no reply for a fortnight."
"Recruiters complain about candidate ghosting after an offer has been accepted."
2
technical A faint secondary image that appears beside or behind the intended one on a screen, print or photograph.
"Fast-moving objects leave visible ghosting on the older panel."
verb
1
Present participle of ghost: to disappear from someone's life without warning or explanation.
"She thinks he is ghosting her, but his phone is broken."
How to use ghosting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVanishing on someone and never replying again.
When to use it
Informal but now completely mainstream, including in journalism and HR writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ghosting someone
get ghosted
job ghosting
screen ghosting
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Three good dates and then _____, with no reply for a fortnight.
Etymology
From ghost, in the sense of vanishing like an apparition, plus -ing.
Synonyms
View more →
stonewalling
cutting off
Related words
Rhymes for ghosting
See all rhymes for ghosting →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ghosting and breadcrumbing?
Ghosting is total silence: the person stops replying and never explains. Breadcrumbing is the opposite pattern, where someone sends just enough occasional messages to keep you interested without ever committing to meeting. Ghosting ends things; breadcrumbing strings them out.
Why do people ghost?
Most commonly to avoid an uncomfortable conversation, because saying 'I am not interested' feels harder than saying nothing. It can also follow feeling overwhelmed, or be a way of getting out of a situation that felt unsafe.
What causes ghosting on a monitor?
Slow pixel response. When pixels cannot change colour quickly enough, a faint trail of the previous frame lingers behind moving objects. It is most visible on older LCD panels and in fast games.
What is the meaning of ghosting?
"ghosting" (noun) means the practice of ending a friendship, romance or working relationship by suddenly cutting off all contact and ignoring every message, without any explanation.
