poltergeist
A poltergeist is a ghost or spirit that is believed to move objects and make noise. It's like a mischievous entity that likes to cause trouble.
When people talk about a poltergeist, they usually mean it as an old-fashioned term for a ghost that can be seen causing trouble in a house or building. Imagine watching on TV shows or movies where something is moving by itself, or you hear strange noises at night - some people think there's a poltergeist around! Sometimes, the word "poltergeist" gets used to describe any kind of ghostly disturbance, but it originally came from German and was meant to describe spirits that are especially active in messing with things.
How common is "poltergeist"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about.
Example: A poltergeist haunts the house by moving objects around, making chain-rattling noises and throwing things.
Real examples of "poltergeist" in context
