ghosting
/ˈɡoʊ.stɪŋ/The act of suddenly cutting off all contact with someone — texts, calls, and social media — without any explanation or warning. The person doing it simply 'disappears' like a ghost. It started as a dating term but now applies to friendships and even workplaces.
- She texted him every day, and then he just started ghosting her.
- I can't believe the company ghosted me after three rounds of interviews.
- Ghosting someone you've dated for months is considered very rude.
The behaviour or practice of cutting someone off without warning. Used to name the pattern itself, not just a single action.
- Ghosting has become one of the most common complaints in modern dating.
- He was hurt more by the ghosting than by the rejection itself.
Adinary Nuance
Traditional dictionaries define "ghosting" narrowly as a dating behaviour, but real usage has expanded far beyond that. By the early 2020s, people ghost employers, landlords, old friends, and even gym trainers — any situation where someone wants to avoid an awkward conversation. The word has also shifted from describing something unusual and hurtful to something so common it now has its own cultural debate: is ghosting ever acceptable? Note that "ghosting" is still informal and should be avoided in formal writing — in a professional email, say "ceased communication" or "did not respond" instead.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bị ghost
- Spanish
- fantasmada
- Chinese
- 无故消失
- Japanese
- ゴースティング
- Korean
- 고스팅
Etymology
Derived from "ghost" (Old English gāst, meaning spirit or phantom). The modern social sense emerged around 2014–2015 in American English, first widely used in online dating culture before spreading globally.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'ghosting' only used in romantic or dating situations?
- Not anymore. It started in dating culture around 2015, but today people use 'ghosting' for friendships, job applications, and professional contacts. If a recruiter interviews you and never replies, that is also called ghosting.
- What is the difference between ghosting and ignoring someone?
- Ignoring can be temporary — you might ignore a call because you are busy and reply later. Ghosting means you stop all communication permanently and without any reason. The key idea in ghosting is that there is no explanation and no comeback.
- Is 'ghosting' formal or informal?
- 'Ghosting' is informal and belongs to everyday spoken English and casual writing. Do not use it in formal emails, reports, or academic writing. In a professional context, say something like 'stopped responding' or 'did not follow up' instead.
- Can I say 'I was ghosted' in a sentence?
- Yes, and this is actually the most common form. 'Ghosted' is the past tense and past participle. You will often hear 'I got ghosted', 'she was ghosted', or 'he ghosted me' in everyday conversation.