26984 words

phantom

5 definitions • 5 examples
1
a spirit of a dead person believed by some to visit the living as a pale, almost transparent form of a person, animal, or other object
2
like a ghost:

Examples:

A phantom coach is said to pass through the grounds of this house when there's a full moon.
humorous The phantom wine-drinker has been around (= an unknown person has been drinking the wine)!
3
used to describe something that you imagine exists or that appears to exist, although in fact it does not:

Examples:

Although she had to have her leg amputated, she still feels as though she's got a phantom limb.
They discovered it was a phantom organization set up for the processing of drug profits.
UK Although she grew bigger, she later discovered it was a phantom (US false) pregnancy.
4
something that appears or seems to exist but is not real or is imagined
5
A phantom is also a ghost.

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