ghostbustingn.adj.
/ˈɡəʊs(t)ˌbʌstɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈɡoʊs(t)ˌbəstɪŋ/ colloquial (originally U.S.)
A. n.
1. The action of investigating or dealing with supposed paranormal activity or phenomena; spec. (originally) the exposure of bogus claims of paranormal activity or abilities; (now often) the elimination or capture of ghosts, poltergeists, etc. Frequently as a modifier.The word became more common after the release of the 1984 film Ghostbusters: see note at ghostbuster n. 1.
ΚΠ
1929 Joplin (Missouri) Globe 4 Aug. 9/2 The story of a ‘ghost-busting expedition’..exploded some long ex-latent theories regarding the famed Marvel cave of the Ozark Shepherd.
1950 Lebanon (Pa.) Daily News 2 Mar. 32/7 Can ghosts really be exorcised from haunted houses? An authority on ghost-busting insists: ‘Yes!’
1984 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 25 Nov. ii. 15/2 One of the year's biggest hits is about a profession that..doesn't yet exist to the extent that it can be called a profession, that is, ghostbusting.
2002 Chicago Tribune 13 Jan. xiv. 7/1 He was often sought out by townspeople for his ‘ghostbusting’ services.
2012 Church Times 20 July 24/4 If this suggests that the Church is unfashionably vigilant about demonic possession and ghostbusting, the truth is that this is in response to demand from the public.
2. British. The investigation of tax evasion and fraud. Frequently as a modifier. Cf. ghostbuster n. 2.
ΚΠ
1985 Sunday Times 1 Sept. 4/7 (headline) Revenue men go ghost busting.
1988 Daily Tel. 10 Dec. 21/3 The yield on the ghostbusting and anti-moonlighting measures known as schedule D compliance was 56 p.c. up on the year before, totalling £35.1m.
2004 Taxation 24 June 333/2 Local compliance officers spoke to everyone including milkmen and gas and electric boards in ‘ghost busting’ projects across the United Kingdom.
B. adj.
That is engaged in ghostbusting; that works or acts as a ghostbuster.
ΚΠ
1986 People 11 Aug. 96 (heading) Ghostbusting magician ‘Amazing Randi’ is honored for unveiling phony psychics.
1992 Locus June 26/1 His band of ghostbusting kids from that earlier novel have grown up into an old boy network.
2002 Sun (Nexis) 18 July Scooby Doo fan Simon Smith has made a 4ft statue of his cartoon hero—out of lard. The chef spent 30 hours painstakingly sculpting the 44lb replica of the ghostbusting pooch.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1929