revenant

American  

[rev-uh-nuhnt] / ˈrɛv ə nənt /

noun

• revenants
  plural

1. a person who returns.

2. a person who returns as a spirit after death; ghost.

3. a corpse reanimated by a supernatural force; an undead being.

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revenant British  

/ ˈrɛvɪnənt /

noun

1. something, esp a ghost, that returns

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• revenants
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of revenant

First recorded in 1820–30; from French: literally, “one returning from a long absence; ghost,” noun use of present participle of revenir “to return,” equivalent to re- “again” + ven(ir) “to come” + -ant present participle ending; see also re- -ant

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Explanation

Use the word revenant to talk about someone who returns after a long absence. If your cat goes missing for weeks, only to stroll back into your house one morning, you could describe him as a revenant. Anyone who comes back after being gone for a long time can be described as revenant, which can be a noun or an adjective. You can even use revenant to talk about ghosts, in that they are said to be spirits of those returning from the dead, or a fashion trend from long ago that is popular again, like revenant tie-dye t-shirts. The word revenant comes from the French revenir, which means "to return."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

revenant revenants

Even then there is a high chance the fire will reappear, like a smoking revenant, fed by hidden fuel buried in the invisible depths of the peat swamp.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

In Metcalfe’s hothouse literary universe, Blundy’s poem is important because it is a revenant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2025

This reminded me, in Italian-American culture, of pastina — a grain that has deep, revenant importance throughout both Italy, America and many countries beyond that.

From Salon ● Jan. 26, 2024

“There is, incidentally, nothing odd in the revenant being a woman,” Rady said of the Polish case.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 7, 2022

I lift my weapon, focusing on Miss Duncan and trying to decide if she is indeed a revenant instead of thinking about the deep burning in my poor scrawny arms.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Remember that if you tire of vampires, you can always turn to the literature of werewolves, demons and revenants.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

The imagery conjures a supernatural patchwork of revenants and Superman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2024

Opening with a substantial, critically astute introduction by Peter Bell, the volume collects for the first time Tynan’s scattered tales of revenants, curses and ancient mysteries.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 6, 2021

It is a volume filled with revenants – a platoon of ghosts – from his father to the poet Mick Imlah, movingly remembered in "The Visit".

From The Guardian ● Nov. 25, 2012

So tonight we sat and told our tales: Olakunde of Oyo, Pomp of marshy cunning-men and revenants, and me of Greece and Rome.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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