apparition: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “apparition” mean?
A ghost or ghostlike image of a person, a supernatural appearance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ghost or ghostlike image of a person, a supernatural appearance.
A sudden or unexpected, often remarkable, appearance of a person or thing; the act of becoming visible.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. 'Apparition' is slightly more common in British literary contexts, but the word is equally understood.
Connotations
Shared connotations of the supernatural and the ephemeral.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, reserved for descriptive or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “apparition” in a Sentence
[apparition of + NOUN][VERB + apparition] (see, witness, describe)[adjective + apparition]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apparition” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The verb form is not standard for 'apparition'. Use 'appear' or 'materialise'.
American English
- The verb form is not standard for 'apparition'. Use 'appear' or 'manifest'.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form. Use phrases like 'like an apparition' or 'apparition-like'.
- She vanished apparition-like into the fog.
American English
- No standard adverb form. Use phrases like 'in an apparitional manner' or 'phantasmally' (extremely rare).
- The figure moved, apparitionally silent.
adjective
British English
- The adjectival form is 'apparitional' (rare), e.g., 'an apparitional figure'. More common: 'ghostly'.
- The castle had an apparitional quality in the mist.
American English
- The adjectival form is 'apparitional' (rare), e.g., 'apparitional experiences'. More common: 'phantom' or 'spectral'.
- He described an apparitional presence in the room.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possible in metaphorical sense: 'The CEO made a brief apparition at the conference before disappearing again.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, history (e.g., accounts of visions), and psychology (e.g., sleep-related hallucinations).
Everyday
Uncommon. Used for dramatic effect when describing a ghostly sighting or a very unexpected arrival.
Technical
Used in parapsychology and certain religious studies to denote a supernatural manifestation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apparition”
- Confusing spelling: 'apparition' not 'apparation'.
- Using it as a synonym for any 'appearance'.
- Incorrect pronunciation stress: /ˌæp.ərˈɪʃ.ən/ not /əˈpær.ɪ.ʃən/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but with a nuance. 'Apparition' often emphasises the *act of appearing* or the visual phenomenon itself, and can be used for non-human supernatural forms. 'Ghost' typically implies the spirit of a dead person.
Yes, though it's less common. It can describe any sudden, surprising, or ethereal appearance, e.g., 'The sun broke through, and an apparition of a rainbow formed over the valley.'
An 'apparition' is treated as an external phenomenon, potentially witnessed by others (even if supernatural). A 'hallucination' is understood as a private, internal perceptual experience with no external stimulus, often linked to medical or psychological conditions.
It is relatively formal and literary. In everyday conversation about ghosts, people are more likely to say 'ghost', 'spirit', or 'phantom'. 'Apparition' is used for dramatic or precise description.
A ghost or ghostlike image of a person, a supernatural appearance.
Apparition: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæp.ərˈɪʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæp.əˈrɪʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) pale as an apparition”
- “appear like an apparition”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pale APPARition (a parent) appearing at the foot of your bed – a spooky parental ghost!
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS BELIEVING / THE MIND IS A PHYSICAL SPACE (for visions)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'apparition' in a literary text?