phantom — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A ghost or apparition.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality; an image that appears only in the mind; an illusion or delusion.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. A placeholder for a pair of players when there are an odd number of pairs playing.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. A test object that reproduces the characteristics of human tissue.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Adjective

1. Illusive.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   […] (it was the town's humour to be always gassing of phantom investors who were likely to come any moment and pay a thousand prices for everything) — “[…] Them rich fellers, they don't make no bad breaks with their money. […]”

2. Fictitious or nonexistent.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   a phantom limb

Adjective

1. something apparently sensed but having no physical reality

   Examples

   seemed to hear faint phantom bells

   the amputee's illusion of a phantom limb

Noun

1. a ghostly appearing figure

   Synonyms

   apparitionphantasmphantasmafantasmspecterspectre

   Broader terms

   spiritdisembodied spirit

   Examples

   we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us

2. something existing in perception only

   Synonyms

   apparitionphantasmphantasmafantasmshadow

   Broader terms

   illusionsemblance

   Examples

   a ghostly apparition at midnight