poltergeist
noun
Did you know?
One of the tricks a poltergeist is known for is making "knocking" noises, so it will come as no surprise to learn that the word poltergeist translates literally from German as "knocking spirit." The German verb poltern means "to knock," and Geist is the German word for "spirit." Another Geist descendant in English is zeitgeist ("the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era"). The English word ghost is also related; it descends from the same ancient root that led to Geist. Although ghost has been used in English since before the 12th century, poltergeist is a relative newcomer, first appearing as an English word in the middle of the 19th century.
Examples of poltergeist in a Sentence
Jim Root, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Things take a turn when the family discovers that their charming rental is already occupied—by a centuries old poltergeist.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 26 Mar. 2025
Houses have always been haunted, but, whereas poltergeists of yore troubled the suburban idyll of white America, in these shows the scariest spectre is a disappearing profit margin.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Enraged, the spirit goes upstairs to his room and begins to cause poltergeist activity like breaking shelves, throwing objects and tearing down posters.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Cite this Entry
“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poltergeist. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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poltergeist
noun
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