Meanings
- uncountableThe supposed manifestation of the presence of one or more poltergeists, especially as involving physical objects which move or fly about without warning.
"Breakin' windows and such," Hall said; "reg'lar Mafficking night they 'ad last night. Put the wind up them all proper." "Poltergeistism!" I ejaculated.
1920, E. H. Jones, The Road to En-Dor, John Lane (London), page 282 more examples
There are numerous records of poltergeists in the scientific and quasi-scientific literature of Europe and the U.S., although there is probably no case of poltergeistism anywhere that has been authenticated beyond reasonable doubt.
1958 March 17, Robert Wallace, “House of Flying Objects”, in Life, page 55Robert Foong had noted that the tactics of aggrieved family ghosts were more along the lines of passive-aggressive than poltergeistism. Nevertheless, Juliet gave a covert look around the room for handy missiles.
2002, Mulaika Hijjas, “Family Ghosts”, in Feminist Studies, volume 28, number 2, page 372
Origin
Cite this entry
poltergeistism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poltergeistism
“poltergeistism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poltergeistism. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “poltergeistism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poltergeistism.
Source: poltergeistism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.