Apparition — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən/ ap·pa·ri·tion

Meaning & Definition of Apparition

Apparition (noun)

  1. an unusual or unexpected sight, phenomenon
  2. a ghostly figure
  3. the act of becoming visible, appearance

Apparition (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people

    "an eccentric who claimed to have photographed an apparition in her very own house"

    similar: bogey, familiar spirit, ghost, hant (dialect), haunt (chiefly dialect), materialization, phantasm, phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter, spirit, spook, sprite, vision, visitant, wraith
    related: angel, daimon, familiar, genie, genius, jinni, shaitan, double, doppelgänger, fetch, lemures, manes, incubus, lamia, succubus, vampire, zombie, cacodemon, demon, devil, fiend, ghoul, imp

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Apparition

The most common words with a similar meaning to Apparition:

Dialect: hant
Chiefly dialect: haunt
bogey, familiar spirit, ghost, materialization, phantasm, phantom, poltergeist, shade, shadow, specter, spirit, spook, sprite, vision, visitant, wraith

Related Words for Apparition

angel, daimon, familiar, genie, genius, jinni, shaitan, double, doppelgänger, fetch, lemures, manes, incubus, lamia, succubus, vampire, zombie, cacodemon, demon, devil, fiend, ghoul, imp

Word Forms of Apparition

Derived words: apparitional (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Apparition

Middle English apparicion, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French appariciun "appearance," borrowed from Medieval Latin appāritiōn-, appāritiō "appearance, supernatural manifestation, Epiphany," going back to Late Latin, "appearance" (Latin, "service, attendance"), from Latin appāri-, variant stem of appārēre "to be visible, be evident, attend, serve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action appear

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Apparition

Frequently Asked Questions about Apparition

What does "Apparition" mean?

"Apparition" means an unusual or unexpected sight, phenomenon. As a noun, it is defined as: an unusual or unexpected sight, phenomenon.

What is another word for "Apparition"?

Other words for "Apparition" include bogey, familiar spirit, ghost, hant, haunt, materialization, phantasm and phantom. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Apparition" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Apparition"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Apparition". Common alternatives include bogey, familiar spirit, ghost, hant, haunt, materialization, phantasm, phantom, poltergeist and shade.

How do you use "Apparition" in a sentence?

Examples of "Apparition" in a sentence: "an eccentric who claimed to have photographed an apparition in her very own house".

Is "Apparition" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Apparition" is a noun.

Is "Apparition" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Apparition" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Apparition"?

"Apparition" is pronounced /ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən/ and divided into syllables as ap·pa·ri·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Apparition"?

"Apparition" comes from Middle English apparicion, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French appariciun "appearance," borrowed from Medieval Latin appāritiōn-, appāritiō "appearance, supernatural manifestation, Epiphany," going back to Late Latin, "appearance" (Latin, "service, attendance"), from Latin appāri-, variant stem of appārēre "to be visible, be evident, attend, serve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action appear. First known use: 15th century.