ghosts: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “ghosts” mean?
Spirits of dead people that are believed to be capable of appearing to the living.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Spirits of dead people that are believed to be capable of appearing to the living.
A faint trace or semblance; a haunting memory or feeling; a slight or secondary image on a screen or in a photographic negative; to act as a ghostwriter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference for the core noun. The verb 'ghost' (in dating/social context) is equally used. The term 'ghost train' (UK) is 'haunted house ride' or 'dark ride' (US) at a fairground.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. The idiom 'ghost of a chance' is slightly more common in British English.
Frequency
Noun frequency is virtually identical. The slang verb 'to ghost someone' is marginally more frequent in American media but fully adopted in UK.
Grammar
How to Use “ghosts” in a Sentence
[subject] is haunted by ghostsGhosts of [past/ war/ victims]to ghost [object pronoun: him/ her/ them]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ghosts” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- After the argument, she just ghosted him completely.
- He was ghosted by the recruiter after the second interview.
American English
- Don't just ghost her; tell her you're not interested.
- The startup ghosted their investors when the product failed.
adverb
British English
- This software runs ghost in the machine, unseen by the user.
American English
- The cell tower signal appeared ghost on the map.
adjective
British English
- He took a ghost train ride at the seaside fair.
- She has a ghost profile on the old forum.
American English
- The article was written by a ghost author.
- He's working a ghost shift (unofficial night shift).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'Ghosting' refers to candidates or clients ceasing contact without explanation. Also, 'ghost brands' are discontinued products.
Academic
In history/literature: 'the ghosts of colonialism'; in physics: 'ghost images'; in computing: 'ghost copies'.
Everyday
Discussing superstitions, Halloween, or describing being ignored by someone ('He ghosted me').
Technical
In photography/optics: a secondary, often faint, image. In typography: a faintly printed character.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ghosts”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ghosts”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ghosts”
- Incorrect: 'There is a ghosts in the room.' Correct: 'There is a ghost...' or 'There are ghosts...'
- Using 'ghosts' as an adjective instead of 'ghostly' (e.g., 'a ghosts figure' X -> 'a ghostly figure').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often associated with fear, ghosts can be perceived as neutral, sad, or even friendly in different cultural contexts and stories.
'Spirit' is a broader term that can refer to the non-physical essence of a living or dead being, including positive or divine entities. 'Ghost' specifically implies the visible manifestation of a dead person's spirit, often tied to a place or unresolved issue.
Yes. A device or machine 'gives up the ghost' when it stops working. In sports, a player can 'ghost' past defenders (move unseen). In publishing, to 'ghost' means to write anonymously for someone else.
The 'gh' digraph was once pronounced in older English (like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'), but became silent in most words by the late Middle English period. The 'h' remains in the spelling due to etymological conservation from its Germanic root 'gast'.
Spirits of dead people that are believed to be capable of appearing to the living.
Ghosts is usually neutral to informal in register.
Ghosts: in British English it is pronounced /ɡəʊsts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡoʊsts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give up the ghost (die/stop working)”
- “ghost of a chance (a very slight chance)”
- “lay a ghost to rest (resolve a troubling memory)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Ghosts GO HST (GO Hosts) – they GO and Host themselves in old places.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A HAUNTING GHOST (e.g., 'ghosts of past mistakes').
Practice
Quiz
In modern informal usage, what does it mean 'to ghost someone'?