Langimage
English

phantom

|phan/tom|

B2

/ˈfæntəm/

ghostly illusion

Etymology
Etymology Information

'phantom' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'fantosme,' where 'fantosme' meant 'ghost or illusion.'

Historical Evolution

'fantosme' changed from the Latin word 'phantasma' and eventually became the modern English word 'phantom'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'ghost or illusion,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a ghost or apparition, something that seems to appear but has no physical reality.

The old house was said to be haunted by a phantom.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Noun 2

an illusion or figment of the imagination.

The oasis in the desert was just a phantom.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45