ghosting

[goh-sting]

noun

1. the appearance of multiple copies or blurred representations of an object on a screen or in an image.

2. Informal.

   1. the practice of suddenly ending all contact with a person without explanation, often in a dating or romantic relationship.

      After several unanswered calls and texts to her, he concluded he’d been a victim of ghosting.

   2. French leave.  Irish goodbye. the act of leaving a social event or engagement suddenly and without saying goodbye.

      Ghosting might be the best option if we want to get home before midnight.

   3. the act or practice of abandoning a job without notice and refusing further contact.

      A labor shortage has contributed to ghosting in the workplace.

3. Digital Technology.,  the removal of comments, threads, or other content from a website or online forum without informing the poster, keeping them hidden from the public but still visible to the poster.

4. the act of adopting the identity of a dead person, especially someone relatively unknown, before the death has been recognized by the government, banks, etc..

   Sometimes ghosting can go on for months before the crime is detected.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ghosting¹

First recorded in 1955–60; ghost + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

"This idea of ghosting someone can be really, really cruel," she adds.

From BBC

Halse will hope to haunt Mitchell with Cullen-like ghosting pace and lines from deep on Saturday when Australia take on England.

From BBC

Add the normalisation of unhealthy dating behaviours like ghosting - suddenly cutting contact without explanation - and some drained daters are deciding: "it's not me, it's you".

From BBC

The uptick in ghosting behavior from recruiters adds to the mental health toll job hunting can take.

From Salon

This was turning into a bit if a doing, though Kata stemmed the tide somewhat by ghosting through to score Leicester's second try of the evening.

From BBC