phantom

See also: Phantom

English

Alternative forms

• fantom (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English fantom, fantum, from Old French fantosme, from Latin phantasma, from Ancient Greek φάντασμα (phántasma).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈfantəm/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfænɾəm/

Noun

phantom (plural phantoms)

1. Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality; a ghost or apparition; something elusive or delusive.
2. An image that appears only in the mind; an illusion.

Synonyms

• ghost
• See also Wikisaurus:ghost

Derived terms

• phantom limb
• phantom pain

Translations

something having no physical reality

• Armenian: ուրվական (urvakan)
• Catalan: fantasma m
• Czech: přízrak m
• Danish: fantom c
• Dutch: fantoom
• French: fantôme (fr) m
• German: Phantom (de) n
• Greek: Φαντομάς (Fantomás)
• Italian: fantasma (it) m, spettro (it) m
• Maori: mariko

• Norwegian: fantom c, fantomet
• Polish: fantom (pl) m
• Portuguese: fantasma (pt) m
• Romanian: fantomă (ro) f
• Romansch: fantom m
• Russian: призрак (ru) m (prízrak), тень (ru) f (t'en’), фантом (ru) m (fantóm)
• Sardinian: pantùma, pantàsima, umbra f
• Spanish: fantasma (es) m
• Sumerian: lalartu
• Swedish: fantom (sv) m

Adjective

phantom (not comparable)

1. Illusive.
   • 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, Twelve O'Clock:

     […] (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.

   a phantom limb

Translations

unreal or fictitious

• Italian: immaginario (it) m, immaginaria (it) f, irreale (it)
• Maori: mariko

External links

• “phantom” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Anagrams

• Hampton