Showing results for "spectre"

• a variation of specter.

spectre

British  

/ ˈspɛktə /

noun

1. a ghost; phantom; apparition

2. a mental image of something unpleasant or menacing

   the spectre of redundancy

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Etymology

Origin of spectre

C17: from Latin spectrum, from specere to look at

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Explanation

A spectre is a ghost or spirit. If you see a spectre of the previous owners in your new house, get out quick! A spectre can also be a thought that haunts you. The word spectre (or specter) has to do with being haunted — it can be something that literally haunts you, like the ghost of your Aunt Sally who bangs the windows every night. You can also say that a reminder of something painful is a spectre. A spectre can also be a fear of something dreadful happening in the future, like the spectre of a second ice age. Spectre is generally the British spelling, while Americans prefer specter.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spectre

From the spectre of refrigerator-infecting AI worms to warnings of "major" security incidents at the horizon, calls to prioritise safety in the development of artificial intelligence dominated an industry summit Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

The prospect of higher oil prices putting upward pressure back on inflation has raised the spectre of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

She lamented that "the spectre of war is looming once more", saying "I do not want to go through that experience of fear and anxiety again".

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

The spectre hanging over Red Bull is that this level of performance is not what Max Verstappen expects, nor will it be enough to lock him into his contract for the next season.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

When he spoke, his voice was deep and hollow-sounding, befitting a spectre.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

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