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a supernatural appearance of a person or thing, especially a ghost; a specter or phantom; wraith:
a ghostly apparition at midnight.
anything that , especially something remarkable or startling:
the surprising apparition of cowboys in New York City.
an act of ; manifestation.
Astronomy. the appearance or time when a comet, especially a periodic one, is visible:
the 1986 apparition of Halley’s comet.
Contemporary Examples

His challenge to use this week to cast the race as between two flesh-and-blood men, not the apparition of 2008.
Democratic Convention Dilemma: Obama 2012 vs. Obama 2008 Howard Kurtz September 3, 2012

One of the most interested suitors, sources say, is Bob Berney, an indie veteran and the co-founder of apparition.
The Hottest Property at Sundance Nicole LaPorte January 24, 2010

Mukamazimpaka also last reported seeing an apparition in 1989.
Did the Virgin Mary Warn Rwanda’s Holiest Town of the Genocide? Nina Strochlic April 19, 2014

And then Further is gone, back on the road, like a time-traveling relic from another era or an apparition of Jerry Garcia.
On the Road With Kesey’s (Drug-Free) Acid Test Nina Strochlic August 26, 2014

Historical Examples

This apparition surprised me, because it seemed to accompany me.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

Hewson appreciated this as soon as he realized that he had been confronted with an apparition.
Questionable Shapes William Dean Howells

Elizabeth, Queen is said to have been warned of her death by the apparition of her own double.
Real Ghost Stories William T. Stead

In his reticence he had the sense of atoning not only to the apparition but to Miss Hernshaw too.
Questionable Shapes William Dean Howells

So saying, the apparition vanished, and was out of sight in a moment.
Tales of My Time, Vol. II (of 3) William Pitt Scargill

I call it an apparition, because that’s the shortest way out.
Questionable Shapes William Dean Howells

noun
an appearance, esp of a ghost or ghostlike figure
the figure so appearing; phantom; spectre
the act of appearing or being visible
n.

c.1500, “unclosing” (of Heaven), from Anglo-French aparicion, Old French apparition, aparoison (15c.), used in reference to the Epiphany (revealing of Christ child to the Wise Men), from Late Latin apparitionem (nominative apparitio) “an appearance,” also “attendants,” in classical Latin “service, servants,” noun of action from past participle stem of apparere “appear” (see appear). Meaning “ghost” first recorded c.1600; the shade of sense differentiation between appearance and apparition is that the latter tends to be unexpected or startling.