phantasma

Phantasma is a term that originates from the Greek word phantasma (φαντάσμα), meaning an appearance, image, or ghost, and entered Latin as phantasma before spreading to other languages. In many languages it refers to a ghost or apparition, and in scholarly and artistic contexts it may denote any striking image or illusion. The term is related to phantom and phantasm, with usage varying by language and tradition.

In philosophy and psychology, phantasma has historically referred to a mental image produced by sense data, a representation that exists in the mind rather than in the external world. Medieval and early modern scholastic writers contrasted phantasma with the thing itself (res) and with perception, using the term to discuss imagination, memory, and cognitive representation.

In modern culture, phantasma is used as a proper noun in titles, fictional characters, band names, and branding to evoke mystery, eeriness, or the supernatural. It appears across literature, film, video games, and music, often chosen for its ghostly or ethereal connotations.

See also: phantom, phantasm, phantasia.