phantom

American  

[fan-tuhm] / ˈfæn təm /

Or fantom

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See apparition.

Other Word Forms

• phantomlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of phantom

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

Example Sentences

She said a year later the bottles were still in the backroom, suggesting the sales were phantom transactions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Prosecutors allege that a network of operators stole nearly $250 million meant to feed children, billing for 91 million phantom meals and spending the proceeds on mansions, luxury cars, jewelry and real estate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then in September, Miami received an inquiry from a reporter about the phantom weights.

From The Wall Street Journal

Perhaps this was identity theft, but it’s also possible brokers submitted fake Social Security numbers to enroll ineligible or phantom people in plans.

From The Wall Street Journal

But if there were any chance of changing my mind and taking the plunge, watching “Welcome to Derry” has permanently exorcised any phantom longings.

From Salon

Related Words

• hallucination