HealthAugust 8, 2026

ghosting

GOHST-ing

Definition

The act of abruptly ending a personal relationship by cutting off all communication without explanation.

Etymology

Derived from the noun 'ghost,' the term evolved in the early 21st century from dating-world slang. It describes the behavior of someone who vanishes like a spirit, leaving no trace behind.

In the news

In the article, the term describes the modern social behavior of suddenly disappearing from contact. It highlights how digital communication tools make this form of social withdrawal easier and more frequent.

The Epidemic of Social Ghosting

Read the full article ↗

The Sunday Paper

Related words

aberrant

Departing from the normal, expected, or standard type; in biology, referring to abnormal…

Health

apoptosis

A process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms as a normal,…

Health

arachidonic

A polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid present in the phospholipids of membranes of the…

Health

blotching

The appearance of irregular, discolored, or uneven patches on the skin.

Health

contraindications

Specific medical reasons or conditions that make a particular treatment or medication…

Health

eicosapentaenoic

A specific type of omega-3 fatty acid, commonly known as EPA, which plays a critical role…

Health

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.