phantasm

[ fan-taz-uhm ]

noun

1. an apparition or specter.

   Synonyms: vision, ghost

2. a creation of the imagination or fancy; fantasy.
3. a mental image or representation of a real object.
4. an illusory likeness of something.

   Synonyms: illusion, hallucination

phantasm

/ ˈfæntæzəm /

noun

1. a phantom
2. an illusory perception of an object, person, etc
3. (in the philosophy of Plato) objective reality as distorted by perception

Derived Forms

• phanˈtasmal, adjective
• phanˈtasmally, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantasm¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin phantasma, from Greek phántasma “image, vision” (akin to phantázein “to bring before the mind”); replacing Middle English fantesme, from Old French, from Latin as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantasm¹

C13: from Old French fantasme, from Latin phantasma, from Greek; related to Greek phantazein to cause to be seen, from phainein to show

Synonym Study

See apparition.

Example Sentences

Even the implicit promise of a male-oriented community is a phantasm.

From Salon

"Cancel culture" is a phantasm.

From Salon

Yet, much like the entire $7.2 trillion federal budget, it is a bit of a phantasm—part real, part fantasy, part nightmare, not likely to materialize in life, except as a warped caricature of itself.

From Slate

There are also 30th anniversary screenings of “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” and Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit short “The Wrong Trousers,” the latter a free event.

From Los Angeles Times

Like most of the fears that animate the right, that's a phantasm, propped up to keep their adrenaline coursing and their rational faculties shut down.

From Salon