- This term started to be used as a metaphor when you ghost someone you become invisible to them, you disappear. This is a metaphor to an actual ghost which is an invisible being.
Ghost /ɡoʊst/
verb Conversion or zero derivation of noun ghost.
To cut off or stop any communication (usually through social media or texts) with someone you are no longer interested in. It is sometimes defined as ignoring someone until they get the hint to leave you alone.
Etymology : Conversion or zero derivation where the noun ghost was changed into a verb ghost (or ghosting). It functions as a participle. Where the noun ghost is used to describe an invisible being, ghost/ghosting is like becoming invisible to someone. Became popular as social media started to become popular around 2015.
Source : Friend (in college): “My friend from home started ghosting me ever since I came to college, I hope she is not mad at me.” (In-person, August 2018). It became a popular term as social media was starting to get popular, around 2014 - 2015 (Dictionary.com, 2017).
Last modified: 9 December 2019