1
: a faint double image on a television screen or other display
also
: the formation of such images
Such displays tend to suffer from ghosting, which shows up as extraneous lines on screen. —
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports 2
informal
: the act or practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with someone (such as a former romantic partner) usually without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc.
Romeo one minute, where'd he go the next? Ghosting is when you go poof and literally disappear out of someone's life without a word or explanation.—Samantha Burns
Samantha Burns"It's the fear of missing out on the thing, or person, that is coming next. … It may be a little mean, but we're dating; it's not like we're in a relationship," said one anonymous online dater in defense of ghosting.—Chelsea Frisbie
see also ghost entry 2 sense 3
Chelsea FrisbieExamples of ghosting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It's called ghosting, a form of identity theft where criminals use the personal information of someone who has died.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Corporate America can learn a lot from dating, as one expert says ghosting and quiet quitting are the same problem.
—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Americans are in an era of friend firing and date ghosting and familial estrangement, of easy and individualized AI companionship, of low social trust, not only in faceless institutions but in other human beings.
—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
Another feature that enhanced observation was recessed objective lenses and super-spectra coating, which helped to reduce flare and ghosting.
—
Matt Morris,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ghosting
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Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Corporate America can learn a lot from dating, as one expert says ghosting and quiet quitting are the same problem.
—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Americans are in an era of friend firing and date ghosting and familial estrangement, of easy and individualized AI companionship, of low social trust, not only in faceless institutions but in other human beings.
—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
Another feature that enhanced observation was recessed objective lenses and super-spectra coating, which helped to reduce flare and ghosting.
—
Matt Morris,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ghosting
Cite this Entry
“Ghosting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghosting. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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