specter

noun

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

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.
Nevertheless, gun-rights proponents have a responsibility to raise the specter, regardless of its likelihood. Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025 The blackout shook health researchers and providers and raised the specter of the Trump administration limiting what public health information Americans can see. Maya Goldman, Axios, 3 Feb. 2025 The conflict now threatens to spiral, raising the specter of a replay of the two Congo wars — between 1996 and 1997, and 1998 and the early 2000s — which various researchers estimate led to 3 million to over 5 million deaths. Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 31 Jan. 2025 Renewable energy critics still raise the specter of Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy in 2011 after receiving a $535-million federal loan. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near specter

Cite this Entry

“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specter. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

specter

noun
spec·​ter
variants or spectre
1
: ghost
2
: something that bothers the mind

More from Merriam-Webster on specter

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!