# specter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈspɛktɚ/ · frequency rank #26,260

## Definitions
1. A ghostly apparition, a phantom.
2. A threatening mental image; an unpleasant prospect
3. Any of certain species of dragonfly of the genus Boyeria, family Aeshnidae.

## Etymology
From Middle French spectre, from Latin spectrum (“appearance, apparition”). Doublet of spectrum.

## Easily confused with
- **speer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-speer)
- **spicer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spicer)
- **Spencer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spencer)
- **sweater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-sweater)
- **spectra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spectra)
- **spectre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spectre)
- **Spector** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spector)
- **spotter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spotter)
- **spender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spender)
- **Spenser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/specter-vs-spenser)
- **sector** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sector-vs-specter)
- **seater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seater-vs-specter)
- **setter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/setter-vs-specter)
- **spacer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spacer-vs-specter)
- **species** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/species-vs-specter)
- **speaker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/speaker-vs-specter)
- **shelter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shelter-vs-specter)
- **smelter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smelter-vs-specter)
- **scepter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scepter-vs-specter)

## Common misspellings (10)
`psecter`, `sepcter`, `spceter`, `speccter`, `specetr`, `specterr`, `spectter`, `spetcer`, `sppecter`, `sspecter`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/specter