definition of the word apparition

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Definition of apparition

• bogie
• familiar spirit
• hant [ dialect ]
• haunt [ chiefly dialect ]
• materialization
• fantasm
• poltergeist
• spectre

Examples of apparition in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apparition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

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 — more at appear

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Dictionary Entries Near apparition

apparent wind

Cite this Entry

“Apparition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apparition. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of apparition, more from merriam-webster on apparition.

Nglish: Translation of apparition for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of apparition for Arabic Speakers

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Meaning of apparition in English

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• astral plane
• astral projection
• incorporeal
• necromancer
• Ouija board
• reincarnation

apparition | American Dictionary

Examples of apparition, translations of apparition.

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a supernatural appearance of a person or thing, especially a ghost; a specter or phantom; wraith: a ghostly apparition at midnight.

anything that appears , especially something remarkable or startling: the surprising apparition of cowboys in New York City.

an act of appearing ; manifestation.

Astronomy . the appearance or time when a comet, especially a periodic one, is visible: the 1986 apparition of Halley's comet.

Origin of apparition

Synonym study for apparition, other words for apparition, other words from apparition.

• ap·pa·ri·tion·al, adjective
• non·ap·pa·ri·tion·al, adjective

Words Nearby apparition

• apparent movement
• apparent solar day
• apparent temperature
• apparent time
• apparent wind
• appassionato

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use apparition in a sentence

My van, Gizmo, shook violently as I traversed the sixteen-mile washboard road up to Mowich Lake, Rainier hovering like an apparition on the horizon.

The superb list of guest stars includes Bowen Yang, Vanessa Williams, John Slattery and Fey herself, appearing, incredibly, as an apparition of Dolly Parton.

Petrie repeatedly refers to Elefantin as an apparition , a revenant, an illusion.

Rogue waves are sea ghosts, terrifying apparitions that arise without warning.

During our drive home from dinner, an apparition of a yellow deer appears to me, seeming to float in the air over the Cullinan’s massive bonnet.

And then Further is gone, back on the road, like a time-traveling relic from another era or an apparition of Jerry Garcia.

Mukamazimpaka also last reported seeing an apparition in 1989.

It will be far more consequential than the weird apparition of the gun–crazed rocker Ted Nugent at the State of the Union.

And the president has to be himself too, not the sudden apparition of an inauthentic pol.

His challenge to use this week to cast the race as between two flesh-and-blood men, not the apparition of 2008.

Terrified with this apparition , he consulted several friends, who advised him to take the advice.

This apparition lasted some eight minutes, and as soon as it disappeared another came of the same form, direction and appearance.

The lions stopped also, being evidently taken by surprise at the sudden and unexpected apparition of a man!

Yet, the harder I stared the clearer appeared the amazing and monstrous apparition .

Humanity shut its eyes in view of the hideous apparition of wan and haggard beggary and crime.

British Dictionary definitions for apparition

/ ( ˌæpəˈrɪʃən ) /

an appearance, esp of a ghost or ghostlike figure

the figure so appearing; phantom; spectre

the act of appearing or being visible

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Definition of 'apparition'

apparition in British English

Apparition in american english, examples of 'apparition' in a sentence apparition, cobuild collocations apparition, trends of apparition.

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Browse alphabetically apparition

• apparently unconscious
• apparently unharmed
• apparently unrelated
• apparitional
• appartement
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'A'

Related terms of apparition

• ghostly apparition

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Definition of apparition noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Apparitions of a woman in white robes have been reported.

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ap·pa·ri·tion

Ap•pa•ri•tion.

• apparitional
• behind the scenes
• Circle of perpetual apparition
• Apparaillyng
• apparatchik
• apparatus criticus
• apparatus urogenitalis
• apparel chain
• apparel industry
• apparelment
• apparent horizon
• apparent magnitude
• apparent motion
• apparent movement
• apparent precession
• apparent temperature
• Apparent time
• apparentness
• appartement
• appassionato
• appeachment
• appeal board
• Appeal Court
• appeal fund
• appeal judge
• appealingly
• appealingness
• appeals board
• appeals court
• appearance money
• apparent viscosity
• apparent visual angle
• Apparent Visual Brightness
• Apparent Visual Magnitude
• apparent volume
• Apparent volume of distribution
• Apparent Volume of Distribution of Dehydroisoandrosterone Sulfate
• apparent wander
• apparent water table
• Apparent Wave Period
• Apparent weight
• Apparent wind
• Apparent Wind Angle
• Apparently Digested Organic Matter
• Apparition (supernatural)
• Apparition of the Infant Jesus
• apparitionally
• Apparitions
• Apparitions of the Virgin Mary
• Apparlement
• Appartement
• Appassionata
• Appassionato
• Appatasaurus
• Appatosaurus
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