Phantom: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that is not real, often a figment of imagination or a deceptive appearance.

• The treasure turned out to be a phantom; it never existed.
• He chased the phantom of a perfect life.

Refers to a supernatural appearance, like a ghost or spirit, often seen unexpectedly or suddenly.

• The sudden apparition of the old woman startled the villagers.
• Some people claim to have seen an apparition in the old castle.

Commonly used to describe the spirit of a dead person that appears to the living. It's the most general term for such phenomena.

• The ghost of the old king is said to haunt this room.
• She told us spooky stories about seeing a ghost at the cemetery.

Often used in a literary or poetic context to describe a ghost or phantom, sometimes implying a sense of dread or fear.

• The specter of war loomed over the country.
• She felt the specter of her past mistakes following her.

Used when referring to something that seems real but does not actually exist. It often implies a mysterious or ghost-like presence.

• He thought he saw a phantom in the old, abandoned house.
• The phantom pain in his lost limb was unbearable.

Used when something appears to be one way but is actually another. Commonly involves visual tricks or misleading appearances.

• The magician's act was full of clever illusions.
• The oasis in the desert turned out to be an illusion created by the heat.

Used to describe something that is purely imagined and not real at all. Commonly used in phrases like 'a figment of imagination.'

• The idea of a monster under the bed is just a figment of his imagination.
• The perfect job he described seemed like a figment of fantasy.

Used to describe sensory experiences that seem real but are created by the mind, often due to mental illness, the influence of drugs, or extreme stress.

• After days without sleep, he began to experience hallucinations.
• She saw a hallucination of her lost pet after the intense medication.

Refers to something that is not real or is an illusion. Common in ghost stories or when discussing something elusive.

• Many people claim to have seen a phantom in the old mansion
• He chased phantoms of his dreams