ghost story

noun

1
: a story about ghosts
2
: a tale based on imagination rather than fact

Examples of ghost story in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The historic hotel, located in downtown Milwaukee, has been the subject of ghost stories for years, with some MLB players reporting frightening and unexplained experiences. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Indah teaches her how to run the house and even what to do in the marital bed, and Gadis looks after Firman, the one person who takes her ghost stories seriously. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Books in the latter space include two Rupi Kaur collections, and a compilation of ghost stories. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026 The Japanese ghost story premiered at the SXSW Midnighter section in March. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ghost story

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ghost story was in 1730

Rhymes for ghost story

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Browse Nearby Words

ghost spot
ghost story
ghost town
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ghost story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghost%20story. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ghost story

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ghost story

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