Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ghost word

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.36 in modern English

Syllables: ghost -word
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A fictitious or erroneous word, originally meaningless (not used in practice), that has been published in a dictionary or similarly authoritative reference work or otherwise listed as genuine, generally as the result of misinterpretation, misreading, or typographical error.

Example Sentences

"Here such cases as ghost words & misglosses, secondary semantics, different etymologies for one etymon or one etymology for different etyma, and finally semantic overpermissiveness are discussed."
"Anglo-Indian English was recognised in colonial days as having unique features, but it was never called Hobson-Jobson at that time. Therefore, this is really a ghost word, or, rather, a ghost meaning."

Etymology

Coined by Walter William Skeat in 1886; from ghost + word.

Inflected Forms

ghost words (plural) ghostword (alternative) ghost-word (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

Mountweazel nihilartikel sniglet

Synonyms

phantom word

Questions

What does ghost word mean?: A fictitious or erroneous word, originally meaningless (not used in practice), that has been published in a dictionary or similarly authoritative reference work or otherwise listed as genuine, generally as the result of misinterpretation, misreading, or typographical error.
Where does ghost word come from?: Coined by Walter William Skeat in 1886; from ghost + word.

How to pronounce ghost word

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ghost word”.
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