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

Zverev is scrambling through his half of the draw despite being far from his best, but the spectre of Alcaraz - who is getting better with every win - looms large.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

The latest strikes raised the spectre of renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia after years of relative calm between the two foes -- as well as fears of broader conflict in Yemen.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 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

“Do not ask me,” cried I, putting my hands before my eyes, for I thought I saw the dreaded spectre glide into the room; “he can tell. Oh, save me! Save me!”

From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

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