ghost story: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Informal
Quick answer
What does “ghost story” mean?
A story about ghosts or other supernatural beings, often intended to be frightening.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A story about ghosts or other supernatural beings, often intended to be frightening.
A narrative, whether fictional or claimed to be true, involving apparitions, hauntings, or spectral phenomena; can also metaphorically refer to an unsubstantiated rumor or a troubling account from the past that resurfaces.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The cultural tradition and typical settings (e.g., country house vs. suburban) may differ.
Connotations
UK: Often associated with ancient buildings, literary tradition (M.R. James), and Christmas ghost stories. US: Often associated with campfire tales, modern urban legends, and Halloween.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “ghost story” in a Sentence
tell someone a ghost storybe scared by a ghost storysit around telling ghost storiesread a ghost story aloudVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ghost story” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We're going to ghost-story the kids by the fire tonight. (very informal, non-standard)
American English
- He loves to ghost-story at every sleepover. (very informal, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The book had a wonderful ghost-story feel to it. (attributive noun use)
American English
- They went to a ghost-story podcast recording. (attributive noun use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'The company's financial ghost stories kept investors wary.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, folklore studies, and cultural history.
Everyday
Common, especially around Halloween or during storytelling.
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts outside of genre classification in media studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ghost story”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ghost story”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ghost story”
- Using 'horror story' interchangeably (a horror story may not involve ghosts). Confusing with 'ghostwriter' (unrelated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While most are works of fiction, the term can also be used for accounts people claim are true, often called 'true ghost stories'.
A ghost story specifically involves ghosts or spirits. A horror story is broader, aiming to frighten with any element (monsters, psychopaths, cosmic terror). All ghost stories are horror, but not all horror stories are ghost stories.
There is a strong tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve, popularised by Victorian writers.
Yes, it can refer to an unverified, alarming rumor or a negative narrative from an organization's past that continues to affect its reputation.
A story about ghosts or other supernatural beings, often intended to be frightening.
Ghost story is usually neutral to informal in register.
Ghost story: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊst ˌstɔːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊst ˌstɔːri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A ghost story come to life (a situation eerily resembling a fictional tale).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GHOST writing a STORY in a dusty book. The two words together define the genre.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A GHOST (a ghost story often deals with unresolved past events haunting the present).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key element of a traditional ghost story?