Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

ghost story

American  

noun

ghost stories plural
  1. a tale in which such elements as ghostly visitations and supernatural intervention are used to further the plot and a chilling, suspenseful atmosphere.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of ghost story

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Strikingly, “Ghost-Eye” has none of the eerie mood of a Gothic novel or ghost story.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 11, 2026

“Presence” was a ghost story about teenage loneliness, filmed from the perspective of a spirit haunting the house a grieving family has just moved into.

From Salon Apr. 17, 2026

And that’s fitting, of course, for a ghost story.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 21, 2026

She is a ghost story to keep the kids safe and away from danger, but to Mal, she is very real.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 17, 2025

“If they weren’t dangerous, then why . . . ?” I tried to understand, struggling not to let him see how seriously I was considering his ghost story.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training