revenant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, formal
Quick answer
What does “revenant” mean?
A person who has returned, especially from the dead.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who has returned, especially from the dead.
A ghost or spirit of a dead person that returns to the living world; more broadly, something that returns or reappears after a long absence, such as a fashion, idea, or problem.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally literary/formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British literary and historical contexts, but the difference is marginal.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech in both regions; primarily found in literary, academic, or journalistic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “revenant” in a Sentence
[revenant] of [noun phrase] (e.g., a revenant of the past)[revenant] from [noun phrase] (e.g., a revenant from the war)act/behave like a [revenant]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “revenant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Revenant' is not used as a verb in modern English. The related verb is 'revene' (archaic).
American English
- 'Revenant' is not used as a verb in modern English. The related verb is 'revene' (archaic).
adverb
British English
- 'Revenantly' is not a standard adverb.
American English
- 'Revenantly' is not a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- The revenant figure stood silently at the foot of the stairs.
- They were troubled by revenant memories of the accident.
American English
- A revenant spirit was said to walk the halls of the old plantation.
- The policy was a revenant idea from a discredited era.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The company's old debt was a financial revenant that haunted the balance sheet.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, history, and cultural studies to discuss themes of return, memory, and haunting.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound highly literary or pretentious.
Technical
Not used in scientific contexts. Specific to humanities.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “revenant”
- Mispronouncing it as /rɪˈviːnənt/ or /ˈriːvənənt/.
- Using it as a synonym for any ghost, rather than emphasizing the 'return' aspect.
- Misspelling as 'revanant'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While it is a type of ghost, it specifically emphasises the act of returning or coming back, often after a long absence. All revenants are ghosts in a sense, but not all ghosts are revenants (e.g., a ghost that never left wouldn't be a revenant).
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically. You can describe a resurgent political ideology, a recurring health issue, or a revived fashion trend as a 'revenant' to give it a haunting, persistent quality.
In popular culture, a revenant is typically a conscious, often intelligent spirit returning in a recognisable form, sometimes with a purpose. A zombie is usually a mindless, reanimated corpse driven by base instincts. A revenant is more ghostly, a zombie more corporeal.
Use it as a countable noun, often preceded by a descriptive adjective (e.g., 'vengeful,' 'spectral'). Common patterns: 'a revenant from [the past/a war]' or 'the revenant of [a person].' Ensure the context supports the idea of a return or reappearance.
A person who has returned, especially from the dead.
Revenant is usually literary, formal in register.
Revenant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrevənənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrevənənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms feature this word specifically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'REVENant' as someone or something that comes back for REVENge or just to RE-Visit.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A HAUNTING ENTITY / AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE IS A GHOST.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'revenant' MOST appropriate?