phantom
FAN-tuhm
Phantom (noun) means a ghost or ghostly figure; something that appears real but has no physical substance. Example: “Visitors swore they saw a phantom drifting through the old theatre.”
noun
1
A ghost or ghostly figure; something that appears real but has no physical substance.
"Visitors swore they saw a phantom drifting through the old theatre."
"Children told stories of a phantom that haunted the old lighthouse."
"The phantom vanished through the wall before anyone could speak."
adj
1
Not real or not actually present, though it seems to be.
"He complained of phantom pain in the leg he'd lost years earlier."
"Analysts blamed the crash on phantom orders flooding the market."
"She kept hearing a phantom ringing from a phone that was switched off."
How to use phantom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA ghost, or more generally something that isn't really there but seems to be.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
phantom limb
phantom pain
phantom figure
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Word forms
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Visitors swore they saw a _____ drifting through the old theatre.
Etymology
From Old French fantosme, from Latin phantasma, from Greek phantazein, "to make visible" — a doublet of "phantasm."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “phantom” mean?
The word “phantom” means a ghost or ghostly figure; something that appears real but has no physical substance. In plain terms, a ghost, or more generally something that isn't really there but seems to be.
How do you pronounce “phantom”?
“Phantom” is pronounced FAN-tuhm (/ˈfæntəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “phantom” in a sentence?
Here is “phantom” used in a sentence: “Visitors swore they saw a phantom drifting through the old theatre.”
What part of speech is “phantom”?
Depending on how it is used, “phantom” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “phantom” come from?
The word “phantom” comes from Latin. From Old French fantosme, from Latin phantasma, from Greek phantazein, "to make visible" — a doublet of "phantasm.".
Is “phantom” a common word?
“Phantom” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “phantom” have?
“Phantom” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a ghost or ghostly figure; something that appears real but has no physical substance.
What is the difference between a phantom and a ghost?
Phantom and ghost are closely related and often used interchangeably to mean a ghostly figure that appears real but has no physical substance. Phantom can also extend more broadly, as an adjective, to describe anything that is not real or not actually present though it seems to be, such as a "phantom pain" or "phantom sound."
What does phantom mean as an adjective?
As an adjective, phantom describes something that is not real or not actually present, even though it seems to be, such as a phantom limb sensation or a phantom noise. This usage extends the noun sense of a ghostly figure into a general description of illusory or unreal presence.
Is a phantom the same as an illusion?
They overlap but are not identical. A phantom specifically suggests something ghostly or something that seems real but has no physical substance, while an illusion is a broader term for any false or misleading perception, which need not involve a ghostly quality.
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