spectre UK English
(something bad that people are afraid might happen in the future)
- The spectre of losing his job was always on his mind.
- The failure of the peace talks has raised the spectre of war.
literary (a frightening ghost) US spelling specter
- You look like a spectre.
specter US English
(something bad that people are afraid might happen in the future)
- The recession is raising the specter of unemployment once again.