ghostly

Ghostly is an adjective used in English to describe things related to ghosts or resembling a ghost. It can refer to spectral appearances, such as a ghost or apparition, or to qualities associated with ghosts, like an eeriness or otherworldliness. It is also used more metaphorically to describe translucence, pallor, or a faint, intangible presence, and is common in descriptions of light, sound, or atmosphere that feels uncanny or haunted. Phrases include ghostly figure, ghostly glow, or ghostly silence.

The word derives from ghost, which entered English in the medieval period from Old English gast; the suffix -ly formed an adjective meaning 'having the characteristics of.' The sense broadened over time from literal spectral entities to figurative uses: pale or faint color ("ghostly pale"), abrupt emptiness, or a mood of unease. In literature, the ghostly is a frequent motif in Gothic and supernatural fiction, cinema, and poetry, used to create tension or reveal secrets.

In folklore, the ghostly is tied to beliefs about spirits and afterlife; in modern media it is a stylistic device to evoke suspense. From a scientific perspective, reported ghost sightings lack verifiable evidence and are often discussed in terms of perceptual errors (pareidolia), environmental factors, or cognitive biases rather than actual apparitions. The term remains common in descriptive writing and criticism as a neutral descriptor or a stylistic cue.