Skip to main content

Ghosting

The act of suddenly cutting ties with someone you date.

The term carries a very negative connotation. On Psychology portals, ghosting will be labeled as a form of psychological abuse. Thus, some people may not see fairness in using the term to refer to people who have vanished after a date or two, or after a little time chatting over Facebook or Tinder.

They'd rather limit it to people who used it as a coward manner of breaking-up a months long relationship or friendship, specially if a bond was explicitly set to exist, and expectations could be deemed as legitimate and rational.

While it can be that the ghoster simply doesn't care enough about the ghostee to end things right, it can also happen as a product of unhealthy relationship dynamics, such as it being almost impossible for a non-assertive anxious-avoidant type to properly break-up with a lovebombing anxious-attached one.
1: That girl said I ghosted her, but we had literally talked for one night. Ghosting? It's not like I owed her anything.

2: My ex vanished after five months. The ghosting was really traumatizing. We were very close together and he knew how much I relied on him.
by NeitherSummerNorTom July 24, 2020
mugGet the Ghosting mug.

Ghosting yourself

When your buddy 🍆 pops up and you think about wanking off but you don't .
My wife went out with her friends last night but, I ended up just ghosting myself and going to bed

Ghosting yourself is anti self care, dont do it man.
by Siakinky December 17, 2020
mugGet the Ghosting yourself mug.

Business Ghosting

When a company ignores your emails/phone calls. Not quite the equivalent to ghosting in relationships, since you’re not looking for some flix & chill — but the idea is similar.

Also applies to when an individual who is exchanging services with you ignores your emails.
Her: “I have sent three follow-ups with no reply! Am I doing something wrong?”
Him: “Nah, you’re just getting that classic business ghosting going on, sis.”
by Oh you know4044 August 18, 2019
mugGet the Business Ghosting mug.

Double Ghosting

When two people, whom have been talking and/or dating, both stop communicating with one another at the same time. So instead of just one person ghosting the other, they both share a mutual responsibility in the ghosting technique.

This type of scenario may leave both parties unsure of what the other is thinking, as they do not know if they do not like them, or just waiting for the other person to send the first text. However, the feeling may be mutual on both ends, in that both parties no longer like each other.
Mike: What happened between you and Sarah? I thought you guys were talking?

Jim: We were, but after I gave her my signature 5 pump dumb last night, she has yet to text me. I don't know if she is still into me, and I don't want to come off as a SIMP, so I think I'm just going to stick to the double ghosting for right now.
by Dr. Roboto February 19, 2021
mugGet the Double Ghosting mug.

Selective Ghosting

When one chooses to respond on one communication platform while ignoring questions or conversations on another.
Benny keeps DMing me on instagram but hasn’t answered my texts. Selective ghosting at its finest.
by #10 November 11, 2021
mugGet the Selective Ghosting mug.

ghosting

This occurs when a person goes "offline" on Facebook but continues to creep and look at pictures.
H: I saw you updated your status.

K: How? You weren't online.

H: I was ghosting..

K: Creeper!
by CrossCountryFool15 August 11, 2010
mugGet the ghosting mug.

ghosting

(verb) The act of stubbornly going and remaining afk for hours on end, almost always while in the middle of an IM chat. A ghoster will not indicate that they are going afk, or will be afk ten times longer than suggested. Almost always occurs when the other IM chatters desperately require the attention or assistance of the ghoster.
<4w350m3k1d1337> haha yea tht sounds epic

<bAsEmEnTfIeNd> it totaly was, u hav no idea

<4w350m3k1d1337> shit on it, we hav a hmwrk asinemnt for thurs, dont we? dude i totaly frogot, wut was it agen?

<4w350m3k1d1337> dude, uthar? u ghosting bro?

<4w350m3k1d1337> ffs DUDE WAEK UP!!!11!!

~ bAsEmEnTfIeNd ~ has been inactive for 10 minutes and may not reply

<4w350m3k1d1337> GODAMIT SHELLDON
by JLeog September 11, 2011
mugGet the ghosting mug.

Share this definition

Sign in to vote

We'll email you a link to sign in instantly.

Or

Check your email

We sent a link to

Open your email