Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

banshee

noun

/ˈbænʃi/

Definition

A banshee is a female spirit in Irish folklore who is said to herald the death of a family member by wailing or shrieking.

Examples

In the quiet of the night, the sound of a banshee filled the air, sending chills down everyone’s spine.
The old woman claimed to have seen a banshee at the edge of the woods, weeping for a lost soul.

Meaning

The term banshee refers to a ghostly figure that is believed to appear before someone in a family is about to die, often serving as a warning or an omen.