poltergeist

American  

[pohl-ter-gahyst] / ˈpoʊl tərˌgaɪst /

noun

1. a ghost or spirit supposed to manifest its presence by noises, knockings, etc.

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poltergeist British  

/ ˈpɒltəˌɡaɪst /

noun

1. a spirit believed to manifest its presence by rappings and other noises and also by acts of mischief, such as throwing furniture about

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Etymology

Origin of poltergeist

1840–50; < German Poltergeist, equivalent to polter ( n ) to make noise, knock, rattle + Geist ghost

Explanation

When you're home alone at night and hear a mysterious noise from above, it's much more likely to be mice in your attic than a poltergeist, which is a noisy ghost. You've probably come across poltergeists in scary movies and books, and with any luck you won't encounter one in real life. Stories describe them as particularly disruptive ghosts, known for making noise and throwing things around. The roots of the word poltergeist make perfect sense: poltern means "create a disturbance" in German, and geist means "ghost."

Example Sentences

In some scenes, the spirit is a poltergeist nuisance, spilling glasses and knocking down shelves; in others, it’s confoundingly trapped behind some sort of plasma screen.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

"It's a very sensible, senior teacher talking about this poltergeist activity," he says.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2023

Here’s what you should know about the mysterious rise and fall of the purported poltergeist.

From National Geographic • Sep. 19, 2023

Both have reportedly claimed that a Skinwalker ranch poltergeist followed them home.

From Scientific American • Jun. 27, 2023

Miguel thought it was a poltergeist, a sort of mischievous spirit that liked to play tricks on the living.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby