holy ghost: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Religious, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “holy ghost” mean?
The third person of the Christian Trinity, considered the active, spiritual presence and power of God in the world.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The third person of the Christian Trinity, considered the active, spiritual presence and power of God in the world.
The term can be used outside of strict Christian theology in a more general or poetic sense to refer to a divine, inspiring, or ethereal spirit. In modern usage, 'Holy Spirit' is generally preferred, making 'Holy Ghost' somewhat archaic or denominationally specific.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely similar, dictated more by religious denomination than by national variety. The term is slightly more prevalent in traditional British Anglican contexts due to the legacy of the Book of Common Prayer. In American English, 'Holy Spirit' is almost universally preferred in mainstream Protestant and Catholic contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes traditional, formal, or high-church religious language. May sound antiquated or specifically liturgical to a non-religious speaker.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Higher frequency in historical religious texts and specific liturgical settings. 'Holy Spirit' is orders of magnitude more common in contemporary usage.
Grammar
How to Use “holy ghost” in a Sentence
the + Holy Ghost + VERB (e.g., descended, moved)VERB (receive, invoke, blaspheme against) + the Holy GhostPREP (by, through, in, with) + the Holy GhostVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holy ghost” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The priest prayed that the congregation would be 'ghosted' by the Holy Spirit. (Note: This is a highly contrived, non-standard usage to fit the structure; the term is almost exclusively a proper noun.)
adjective
British English
- The Holy Ghost fire descended upon them. (Note: 'Holy Ghost' here functions as a noun adjunct modifying 'fire.')
American English
- They attended a Holy Ghost revival meeting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, or literary studies when discussing classical Christian texts or terminology.
Everyday
Extremely rare in secular conversation. Used primarily by members of certain Christian denominations in religious contexts.
Technical
A technical term in systematic theology and historical liturgy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holy ghost”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holy ghost”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holy ghost”
- Capitalization: It must always be capitalized as 'Holy Ghost.'
- Using it in a secular context to mean a general 'good vibe' is incorrect.
- Confusing it with the concept of a deceased person's ghost.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, theologically they are identical. 'Holy Ghost' is simply an older English term derived from Old English 'gast' (spirit). 'Holy Spirit' is the standard modern term.
They often use traditional liturgies (like the 1662 Book of Common Prayer) or hymns where the older language is preserved for its historical, aesthetic, or doctrinal resonance.
Not at all, within appropriate religious contexts. However, using it flippantly or in a secular context to mean something like 'good luck charm' could be disrespectful to believers.
Unless you are participating in a traditional liturgical service or quoting a historical text, 'Holy Spirit' is the safer, more widely understood, and contemporary choice.
The third person of the Christian Trinity, considered the active, spiritual presence and power of God in the world.
Holy ghost is usually formal, religious, archaic in register.
Holy ghost: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊli ˈɡəʊst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊli ˈɡoʊst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't blaspheme against the Holy Ghost (the 'unforgivable sin').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a traditional Christmas 'ghost' story, but this 'Ghost' is holy and represents a comforting, divine spirit—not a scary one.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE DIVINE IS A PERSON (Comforter, Advocate); THE DIVINE IS A FORCE (power, fire, wind).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Holy Ghost' MOST likely to be used correctly today?