What does "ghosting" mean?
The practice of hiding prisoners from inspection from (possibly hostile) outside inspectors.
Ghosting
noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The practice of hiding prisoners from inspection from (possibly hostile) outside inspectors.
- Grammar: ghosting is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abandonment, avoid replying, cease contact, disappearance.
- Useful contrasts: address, communication, contact.
- Usage evidence: I think Tom may be ghosting me.
How to use "ghosting"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ghosting" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ghosting" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ghosting" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ghosting" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ghosting" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abandonment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ghosting", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The practice of hiding prisoners from inspection from (possibly hostile) outside inspectors. countable, uncountable
- 2 The blurry appearance of a television picture resulting from interference caused by multipath reception. countable, uncountable
- 3 Ghost imaging. countable, uncountable
- 4 A form of identity theft in which someone steals the identity, and sometimes even the role within society, of a specific dead person (the "ghost") who is not widely known to be deceased. countable, uncountable
- 5 A problem with a keyboard where certain simultaneous keypresses trigger the action of a further key that was not in fact pressed. countable, uncountable
"Examine your matrix map, and make sure that no three keystrokes form a rectangle with a fourth keystroke that will cause you problems. This prevents both ghosting and blocking."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A method of ending a personal relationship by stopping any contact with the other party and not providing an explanation. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"Stories of ghosting often deal with broken-off romances, but it's worth mentioning that friend ghosting is real, and sometimes necessary."
- 7 The phenomenon of the writing on one side of a page in a notebook being partly visible on the other side. countable, uncountable
- 8 The act or habit of exhaling vape smoke slowly, to prevent others from noticing. countable, slang, uncountable
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of ghost form-of, gerund, participle, present
Slang
- 1 Suddenly cutting off communication without explanation. slang, dating, 2010s-2020s
"He ghosted after two dates."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I think Tom may be ghosting me."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ghosting"?
Common synonyms include: abandonment, avoid replying, cease contact, disappearance, disengagement, ignore.
How do you use "ghosting" in a sentence?
I think Tom may be ghosting me.
Etymology
From ghost + -ing.