spectre

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableliterary

   A ghost, especially a frightening one that appears suddenly.

   Grammar: Countable: a spectre in the hall.

   A pale spectre drifted along the castle corridor.

   Villagers swore they saw a spectre on the old bridge.

   The story features a spectre who haunts the lighthouse.

2. 2nounusually singularfigurative

   A feared possibility that threatens people and will not go away.

   Grammar: Usually followed by of: the spectre of unemployment.

   Patterns

   • the spectre of something

   The spectre of war hung over the region.

   Rising prices raised the spectre of another recession.

   The spectre of failure kept him awake.

Word forms

Common combinations

the spectre of

The spectre of famine returned after the drought.

raise the spectre

The report raised the spectre of mass layoffs.

haunted by the spectre

The town was haunted by the spectre of closure.

a ghostly spectre

A ghostly spectre appeared in the mist.

banish the spectre

The team hoped to banish the spectre of defeat.

Synonyms and how they differ

ghost

Ghost is the ordinary word for a spirit, while spectre sounds more literary and suggests fear.

phantom

Phantom stresses something unreal and often fleeting, and can be used for imaginary threats.

apparition

Apparition describes a sudden appearance that may startle you, and is often used for ghosts.

threat

Threat is a plain word for danger, while spectre adds an image of lasting fear.

Word family

spectral adjective

ghostly

specter noun

the American spelling

spectrum noun

a range, from the same Latin root meaning appearance

spectacle noun

an impressive sight

Commonly confused: spectre or spectrum? spectre or specter?

Practice

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