Poltergeist

Etymology

From German Poltergeist, from poltern (“to make a racket, to rumble or knock about”) plus Geist (“spirit, ghost”) — literally a “noisy ghost.” English adopted it in the nineteenth century, keeping the emphasis on commotion over apparition.

noun · /POHL-ter-gyste/
A supposed spirit that announces itself through noise and physical disturbance rather than appearing.
What it names
The kind of haunting defined by activity — banging, thrown objects, moved furniture — instead of a visible ghost.
Example
The cupboards slammed on their own so often that the kids started blaming a poltergeist.
Related idea
A ghost is a presence; a poltergeist is defined by what it does — noise, mischief, mayhem — rather than by anything you see.