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

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

Our revenant rowed to the side of a dock and held it with one hand.

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

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

“Explaining something makes it go away,” Gorey once said, and like the revenants in his pictures, he planned to stay a while.

From New York Times ● Nov. 28, 2018

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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