phantom

or fan·tom

[ fan-tuhm ]

noun

1. an apparition or specter.
2. an appearance or illusion without material substance, as a dream image, mirage, or optical illusion.
3. a person or thing of merely illusory power, status, efficacy, etc.:

   the phantom of fear.

4. an illustration, part of which is given a transparent effect so as to permit representation of details otherwise hidden from view, as the inner workings of a mechanical device.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a phantom; illusory:

   a phantom sea serpent.

   Synonyms: imaginary

   Antonyms: material, real

2. Electricity. noting or pertaining to a phantom circuit.
3. named, included, or recorded but nonexistent; fictitious:

   Payroll checks were made out and cashed for phantom employees.

phantom

/ ˈfæntəm /

noun

1. 1. an apparition or spectre
   2. ( as modifier )

      a phantom army marching through the sky

2. the visible representation of something abstract, esp as appearing in a dream or hallucination

   phantoms of evil haunted his sleep

3. something apparently unpleasant or horrific that has no material form
4. med another name for manikin

Other Words From

• phantom·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantom¹

1250–1300; Middle English fantosme < Middle French, Old French < Latin phantasma phantasm

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantom¹

C13: from Old French fantosme, from Latin phantasma phantasm

Synonym Study

See apparition.

Example Sentences

On the other hand, they can be delicate, don’t do a very good job with loud noises, and also require power from either an internal battery or through a USB connection or a source that can deliver 48v phantom power.

From Popular-Science

I didn’t want to think that this would happen to us when I got on the plane that rainy afternoon in September, but somewhere in my mind lived the phantom of the definitive separation.

From Washington Blade

He’s the phantom of a new opera, only he’s here in flesh and blood, to tell us a new story from sounds we’ve heard before.

From Time

So scientists have been curious how much climate-warming gas these phantom ecosystems spew.

From Science News For Students

The phantom rivers experiment suggests we shouldn’t, she says.

From Science News

During the 1970s, the then brand new F-15A Eagle carried the same antiquated armament as the Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom II.

From The Daily Beast

The sanctuary the phantom callers promise comes with a price.

From The Daily Beast

As this begins to set in, the phantom caller morphs into Lori, who whispers to her husband, “What happened, Rick?”

From The Daily Beast

He receives phantom phone calls from people who promise him a safe haven.

From The Daily Beast

Doctors, patients, a phantom lawyer (“I spoke with the patient at length, but he is still refusing…”)?

From The Daily Beast

A tall phantom in livery appeared, as if by magic, and signed to me to ascend the grand staircase.

From Project Gutenberg

Mankind, mad with the energy of activity, would be seen to pursue the fleeing phantom of insatiable desire.

From Project Gutenberg

Our middy53 has gone up to San Francisco in pursuit of the phantom Education.

From Project Gutenberg

Jivros, or insect-priests, moved phantom-like before my sleepless eyes, watching from the dark and waiting.

From Project Gutenberg

You know the sort of vague light there is in dreams, the colourless empty atmosphere where everything has the look of a phantom.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hallucination