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Original · left

Ghost

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

Ghosting (behavior)

First in use: the 2010s

Ghosting / Ghost / Ghosting (behavior)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Spirits vs. vanishing from a relationship.

Which meaning of Ghosting is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Ghost came first (ancient / pre-modern). Ghosting (behavior) arrived in the 2010s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

GhostGhosting (behavior)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · ancient / pre-modern

Ghost

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Duplicate · the 2010s

Ghosting (behavior)

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More duplicated terms

Internet & gaming culture