revenant

American  

[rev-uh-nuhnt] / ˈrɛv ə nənt /

noun

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.

---

revenant British  

/ ˈrɛvɪnənt /

noun

1. something, esp a ghost, that returns

---

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; re- -ant

Example Sentences

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

If you’re of a particular temperament - a true Music Head, for example - you can almost get spiritual about the revenant power represented by the history contained on all that vinyl.

From Washington Times • Jun. 19, 2019

And I was like” — Rudolph affected the faraway stare of a revenant — “ ‘My daughter’s sick.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2018

Perhaps she’s a revenant, like the creature in Mr. Alexander Westing’s latest weekly serial “The Ghost Knocks Thrice.”

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland