spectre

/ ˈspɛktə /

noun

1. a ghost; phantom; apparition

2. a mental image of something unpleasant or menacing

   the spectre of redundancy

Word History and Origins

Origin of spectre¹

C17: from Latin spectrum, from specere to look at

Example Sentences

They cannot allow him to be the spectre hanging over every game.

From BBC

One game down in Australia and the spectre of injury has already hit.

From BBC

Palmer seemed unable to shake off the spectre of the 1983 raid.

From BBC

Even before Sir Keir's upcoming summit on Monday, his opponents are raising that spectre.

From BBC

The crisis didn't spiral towards nuclear war, but it was a reminder of how quickly tensions here can summon that spectre.

From BBC