Holy Ghost

proper noun

The person (hypostasis) of the Trinity or Godhead corresponding to divine essence, which becomes present in and among the faithful (particularly inspired prophets) and is considered to proceed either (Eastern Orthodoxy) from God the Father alone or (Roman Catholicism) from Him together with God the Son.

Similar
God the Holy Ghostothers at Holy Spirit
OriginMiddle English Holi Gost ← Old English Hāliġ Gāst ← Latin Spīritus Sānctus →
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Meanings

Holy Ghost1

proper nounthe Holy Ghost
  1. ChristianityThe person (hypostasis) of the Trinity or Godhead corresponding to divine essence, which becomes present in and among the faithful (particularly inspired prophets) and is considered to proceed either (Eastern Orthodoxy) from God the Father alone or (Roman Catholicism) from Him together with God the Son.

    O God the Holy Ghost, Perfecter of the Elect, Have Mercy on us.

    1728, “The Litany of the Saints and Angels”, in A Manual of Prayers and Other Christian Devotions, page 50
    3 more examples

    Now the birth of Iesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Ioseph (before they came together) shee was found with childe of the holy Ghost.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 1:18

    I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

    1899, “Lay Baptism”, in The Catholic's Pocket Prayer-Book, page 4

    There are deadly sins from which God's people may recover. A man may even communicate unworthily, and yet, so be it he sin not against the Holy Ghost, he may find forgiveness.

    1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

    Synonyms: God the Holy Ghost, others at Holy Spirit

nounHoly Ghost (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe plant Angelica archangelica.

Holy Ghost2

proper noun

alternative Holyghost

  1. A name of several barangays in Baguio, Benguet, Philippines.

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounThe person (hypostasis) of the Trinity or Godhead corresponding to divine essence, which becomes present in and among the faithful (particularly inspired prophets) and is considered to proceed either (Eastern Orthodoxy) from God the Father alone or (Roman Catholicism) from Him together with God the Son.

Similar
God the Holy Ghostothers at Holy Spirit
Also see
holy spirit

Origin

Holy Ghost · proper noun, noun

  1. Hebrewרוּחַ הָקֹדֶשׁ
  2. Ancient GreekΠνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον
  3. LatinSpīritus Sānctus
  4. Old EnglishHāliġ Gāst
  5. Middle EnglishHoli Gost
  6. EnglishHoly Ghost

From Middle English Holi Gost, from Old English Hāliġ Gāst, a calque of Latin Spīritus Sānctus, which in turn is a calque of Ancient Greek Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον (Pneûma tò Hágion), from πνεῦμα (pneûma, “breath, vital force, soul”) + ἅγιος (hágios, “holy”)), a calque of Hebrew רוּחַ הָקֹדֶשׁ (rûaḥ hā-qōḏeš), from רוּחַ (rûaḥ, “wind, breath, spirit”) + קֹדֶשׁ (qōḏeš, “holiness”), from earlier רוּחַ יְהֹוָה/יַהְוֶה (rûaḥ Yəhōwā/Yahəweh, “wind of Jehovah/Yahweh”).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Holy Ghost · proper noun

Named after the Convent of the Holy Ghost Sisters, which was present in the area. Currently, the land of the convent is owned by the Iglesia ni Cristo within Holy Ghost Hill Proper.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Holy Ghost. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Holy%20Ghost

MLA

“Holy Ghost.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Holy%20Ghost. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Holy Ghost,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Holy%20Ghost.

Source: Holy Ghost on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.