Ghost vs. Revenant — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 28, 2024
Ghosts are typically depicted as incorporeal spirits of the deceased, often visible and ethereal; revenants are corporeal, reanimated corpses that return for a specific purpose.
Difference Between Ghost and Revenant
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Ghosts are considered spirits or souls of the dead that have not moved on to the afterlife, often appearing translucent and able to pass through objects. On the other hand, revenants are depicted as visible, physical beings that have returned from the dead, usually for revenge or unfinished business, and they are often more tangible than ghosts.
While ghosts are widely known in various cultures globally and often associated with hauntings and supernatural events, revenants are specifically noted in European folklore, particularly as part of gothic literature and horror stories, where their purpose is more focused and dire.
Ghosts are usually perceived as non-interactive with the physical environment, manifesting through sounds, temperature changes, or visual apparitions. In contrast, revenants interact physically with their surroundings and can manipulate objects or harm living beings due to their corporeal nature.
The portrayal of ghosts in stories and media often centers around their presence being mysterious and eerie, linked to specific locations or objects. Conversely, revenants are typically involved in a plot-driven by their need for vengeance or resolution of their unfinished tasks, which is often graphically depicted.
In terms of spiritual or religious context, ghosts might be seen as lost souls needing help to find peace, reflecting themes of purgatory or spiritual limbo. Revenants, however, are usually seen as disturbing the natural order of life and death, bringing themes of unnatural life and the consequences of unresolved past deeds.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Incorporeal spirit
Corporeal undead
Appearance
Translucent, ethereal
Solid, often decaying
Cultural Origin
Global, various cultures
Primarily European folklore
Interaction
Limited, non-physical
Physical, can manipulate objects
Typical Story Role
Haunting, mystery
Vengeance, unfinished business
Compare with Definitions
Ghost
A spirit of a dead person believed to appear to the living, typically as a nebulous image.
The ghost of the former owner is said to roam the halls of the mansion.
Revenant
A visible, often gruesome returnee from the dead with a purpose.
The revenant returned to protect a secret buried with him.
Ghost
A faint, elusive, and non-physical entity.
The ghostly figure appeared at the stroke of midnight.
Revenant
An undead being that returns with a specific, often malicious, intent.
The village was haunted by a revenant seeking vengeance for an ancient betrayal.
Ghost
An apparition or specter seen, usually indicating a haunting.
Witnesses reported seeing a ghost in the old theater.
Revenant
A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.
In the film, the revenant sought revenge against those who wronged him.
Ghost
Any faint or shadowy semblance; a trace.
She's a ghost of her former self since the accident.
Revenant
Someone who returns to life from interacts physically with the environment.
The revenant broke down the door to confront its murderer.
Ghost
The spirit of a deceased person that haunts a specific location.
The old library is famous for the ghost that disturbs the silence.
Revenant
An animated corpse that returns from the grave to terrorize the living.
Local folklore is rich with tales of a revenant stalking the moors.
Ghost
In folklore, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to realistic, lifelike forms.
Revenant
A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead
He was three hundred years old, a terrible living revenant
Ghost
An apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image
A ghost ship
The building is haunted by the ghost of a monk
Revenant
One that returns after a lengthy absence.
Ghost
Act as ghostwriter of (a work)
His memoirs were smoothly ghosted by a journalist
Revenant
Someone who returns from a long absence.
Ghost
Glide smoothly and effortlessly
They ghosted up the river
Revenant
A person or thing reborn.
Ghost
End a personal relationship with (someone) by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication
I didn't want to ghost her, so we ended up having ‘the talk’ and it was horrible
People who ghost are primarily focused on avoiding their own emotional discomfort
Being ghosted is one of the toughest ways to be dumped
Revenant
A supernatural being that returns from the dead; a zombie or ghost.
Ghost
The spirit of a dead person, especially one that is believed to appear to the living in bodily form or to haunt specific locations.
Revenant
Returning.
Ghost
A person's spirit or soul
Was sick for months and finally gave up the ghost.
Revenant
A person who returns after a lengthy absence
Ghost
A returning or haunting memory or image.
Revenant
Someone who has returned from the dead
Ghost
A slight or faint trace
Just a ghost of a smile.
Revenant
Of or relating to or typical of a revenant;
Revenant shrieks and groans
Ghost
The tiniest bit
Not a ghost of a chance.
Revenant
Coming back;
A revenant ghost
Ghost
An unwanted image on a television or radar screen caused by reflected waves.
Ghost
A displaced image in a photograph caused by the optical system of the camera.
Ghost
An unwanted spectral line caused by imperfections in a diffraction grating.
Ghost
A displaced image in a mirror caused by reflection from the front of the glass.
Ghost
(Informal) A ghostwriter.
Ghost
A nonexistent publication listed in bibliographies.
Ghost
A fictitious employee or business.
Ghost
(Informal) To engage in ghostwriting.
Ghost
To move noiselessly like a ghost
“Two young deer ghosted out of the woods” (Nancy M. Debevoise).
Ghost
To haunt.
Ghost
(Informal) To ghostwrite
Was hired to ghost the memoirs of a famous executive.
Ghost
The spirit; the human soul.
Ghost
Any faint shadowy semblance; an unsubstantial image.
Not a ghost of a chance
The ghost of an idea
Ghost
A false image formed in a telescope, camera, or other optical device by reflection from the surfaces of one or more lenses.
Ghost
An unwanted image similar to and overlapping or adjacent to the main one on a television screen, caused by the transmitted image being received both directly and via reflection.
Ghost
A ghostwriter.
Ghost
A nonexistent person invented to obtain some fraudulent benefit.
Ghost
A dead person whose identity is stolen by another. See ghosting.
Ghost
(Internet) An unresponsive user on IRC, resulting from the user's client disconnecting without notifying the server.
Ghost
(computing) An image of a file or hard disk.
Ghost
(theatre) An understudy.
Ghost
(espionage) A covert (and deniable) agent.
Ghost
The faint image that remains after an attempt to remove graffiti.
Ghost
(video games) An opponent in a racing game that follows a previously recorded route, allowing players to compete against previous best times.
Ghost
Someone whose identity cannot be established because there are no records of him/her.
Ghost
(quantum physics) An unphysical state in a gauge theory.
Ghost
A formerly nonexistent character that was at some point mistakenly encoded into a character set standard, which might have since become used opportunistically for some genuine purpose.
Ghost
(countable) ghost pepper
Ghost
(uncountable) A game in which players take turns to add a letter to a possible word, trying not to complete a word.
Ghost
White or pale.
Ghost slug
Ghost
Transparent or translucent.
Ghost ant
Ghost catfish
Ghost
(attributive) Abandoned.
Ghost town
Ghost ship
Ghost
(attributive) Remnant; the remains of a(n).
Ghost cell
Ghost crater
Ghost image
Ghost
(attributive) Perceived or listed but not real.
Ghost cellphone vibration
Ghost pain
Ghost island
Ghost voter
Ghost
(attributive) Of cryptid, supernatural or extraterrestrial nature.
Ghost rocket
Ghost deer
Ghost
(attributive) Substitute.
Ghost writer
Ghost singer
Ghost
To haunt; to appear to in the form of an apparition.
Ghost
(obsolete) To die; to expire.
Ghost
(literary) To imbue with a ghost-like hue or effect.
Ghost
(ambitransitive) To ghostwrite.
Ghost
(nautical) To sail seemingly without wind.
Ghost
(computing) To copy a file or hard drive image.
Ghost
(GUI) To gray out (a visual item) to indicate that it is unavailable.
Ghost
To forcibly disconnect an IRC user who is using one's reserved nickname.
Ghost
(intransitive) To appear or move without warning, quickly and quietly; to slip.
Ghost
(transitive) To transfer (a prisoner) to another prison without the prior knowledge of other inmates.
Ghost
(slang) To kill.
Ghost
To perform an act of ghosting: to break up with someone without warning or explanation; to ignore someone, especially on social media.
Ghost
(film) To provide the speaking or singing voice for another actor, who is lip-syncing.
Ghost
The spirit; the soul of man.
Then gives her grieved ghost thus to lament.
Ghost
Any faint shadowy semblance; an unsubstantial image; a phantom; a glimmering; as, not a ghost of a chance; the ghost of an idea.
Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Ghost
A false image formed in a telescope by reflection from the surfaces of one or more lenses.
And he gave up the ghost full softly.
Jacob . . . yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people
Ghost
To die; to expire.
Ghost
To appear to or haunt in the form of an apparition.
Ghost
A mental representation of some haunting experience;
He looked like he had seen a ghost
It aroused specters from his past
Ghost
A writer who gives the credit of authorship to someone else
Ghost
The visible disembodied soul of a dead person
Ghost
A suggestion of some quality;
There was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
He detected a ghost of a smile on her face
Ghost
Move like a ghost;
The masked men ghosted across the moonlit yard
Ghost
Haunt like a ghost; pursue;
Fear of illness haunts her
Ghost
Write for someone else;
How many books have you ghostwritten so far?
Common Curiosities
Can ghosts and revenants both be seen?
Yes, both can be seen, but ghosts often appear more translucent and less defined than the physically solid revenants.
What is the primary difference between a ghost and a revenant?
The primary difference is that ghosts are non-physical and often ethereal, while revenants are corporeal and physically interact with the environment.
Is there a scientific basis for the existence of ghosts or revenants?
No, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the existence of ghosts or revenants.
Can both ghosts and revenants interact with the physical world?
Ghosts typically have limited physical interaction, while revenants can fully interact with and manipulate their physical environment.
Are ghosts and revenants based on real events?
Both are rooted in folklore and mythology rather than scientific evidence.
How are ghosts and revenants depicted differently in media?
Ghosts are often depicted as haunting spirits causing fear or mystery, while revenants are shown as purpose-driven, physically imposing figures seeking resolution or vengeance.
Why do revenants return from the dead?
Revenants typically return for a specific purpose, such as revenge or to complete unfinished business.
What type of stories feature revenants?
Revenants are commonly featured in horror stories and gothic literature focused on themes of death and resurrection.
How are ghosts and revenants treated in different cultures?
Treatment varies widely, with some cultures seeing these entities as protective or benign, while others view them with fear and suspicion.
Can a ghost become a revenant?
In folklore, these are distinct entities, but some stories blend elements of both for dramatic effect.
What cultural beliefs influence the concept of ghosts?
Beliefs about ghosts are influenced by a wide range of cultural perspectives on the afterlife and spirit world.
How do people typically react to ghosts versus revenants in folklore?
Reactions to ghosts are usually fear and intrigue, whereas revenants often elicit horror and urgency due to their direct threat.
What purposes do revenants serve in stories?
Revenants serve to advance narratives about justice, vengeance, and the unresolved tensions between the living and the dead.
What psychological effects do stories of ghosts and revenants have on people?
These stories can evoke fear, fascination, and a deeper contemplation of life and death.
What are some common elements in tales of ghosts?
Common elements include hauntings, ethereal appearances, and association with specific locations or tragedies.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
