specter

noun

spec·​ter ˈspek-tər How to pronounce specter (audio)
variants or spectre
Synonyms of specter
1
: a visible disembodied spirit : ghost
2
: something that haunts or perturbs the mind : phantasm
the specter of hunger

Synonyms of specter

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rates had dipped below 6% in late February, but the onset of the Iran War and the accompanying specter of inflation pushed them higher. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 The specter of the takeover wasn't apparent on Wednesday morning; the convocation itself was a large-scale pep rally, featuring live music, games, cheering, and dancing, all to boost morale and propel teachers forward. — Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 The specter of the aurora borealis appearing during totality in the skies above Iceland and Greenland during totality is getting eclipse chasers excited. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The specter of surveillance That’s not the case when the threats run in the opposite direction. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specter

Word History

Etymology

French spectre, from Latin spectrum appearance, specter, from specere to look, look at — more at spy

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of specter was in 1605

Phrases Containing specter

Rhymes for specter

See All Rhymes for specter

Browse Nearby Words

spectatress
specter
specter bat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specter. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

specter

noun
spec·​ter
variants or spectre
ˈspek-tər How to pronounce specter (audio)
1
: ghost
2
: something that bothers the mind

More from Merriam-Webster on specter

Nglish: Translation of specter for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All