Common Terminology

Apparition -Visual representation of a disembodied entity or spirit. This might take the full form of a person, or appear as a faint mist.
Cold spot -Cool or cold patches of air. Ghosts draw energy from the air, which leaves the cold spot behind.
DVP -Direct Voice Phenomenon -audio that is heard live rather than on a recording.
Dowsing -Movement of rods or pendulums to communicate with a spirit.
Ectoplasm -Mist associated with paranormal activity.
EMF -Electro-Magnetic Frequency (or Field)- combination of electric and magnetic energy, which is generally experienced in the presence of spirits.
Entity -Intelligent being who may or may not have been human.
EVP -Electronic Voice Phenomenon -audio that is heard on a recording's playback that wasn't audible in real time.
Ghost -Human paranormal entity.
Ghost lights -Unexplained lights that appear in groupings, usually outdoors.
Haunting -Activities by a spirit
Manifest -Presentation of paranormal activity.
Orb s -Unexplained balls of light.
Paranormal -Experience/activity that is beyond the normal.
Poltergeist -Paranormal activity that is the result of psychic-kinetic (PK) energy -usually the outflow of pent up emotions.
Shadow Person/People -One of the more controversial terms in the field. Some say these are human spirits who couldn't fully manifest. Others say these are non-human entities with malicious intent. (There are many theories for shadow people)
Spirit -Former human.
Vortex -Central point of spiritual activity or energy.