spectres

Spectre (plural spectres or specters in American usage) refers to an apparition or ghost, typically an immaterial manifestation of a deceased person or being. The term derives from Old French spectre, from Latin spectrum meaning appearance or image. In British English the plural form is spectres, while in American English specters is common.

In folklore and culture, spectres are reported across many traditions as non-corporeal or translucent beings that can interact with the living or merely observe. They may be tied to memory, guilt, punishment, or unfinished business. Some traditions depict benevolent shades offering guidance, while others portray malevolent entities.

In fiction and media, spectres serve as motifs for haunting, memory, or moral inquiry. They appear in literature, theatre, film, and games, ranging from ghostly visitors to shapes representing collective trauma. The term can also be used metaphorically to denote the persistent presence of an issue, such as the spectre of war or famine.

Scientific and skeptical perspectives emphasize that ghost reports lack verifiable evidence and can be explained by psychological and environmental factors such as pareidolia, sleep paralysis, suggestibility, or misinterpretation of sensory cues. As a result, many researchers treat spectres as cultural or psychological constructs rather than objective phenomena.

See also: ghost, spirit, apparition, phantom, wraith. Note: In capitalization, Spectre as a proper noun appears in some modern uses (e.g., fictional organizations, security terms), but the general term remains spectre/spectres.