acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: abnormal dread of being in a high place : fear of heights

acrophobe

ˈa-krə-ˌfōb 

noun

acrophobic

ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bik 

adjective

Examples of acrophobia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One belief is that how a parent handles their child’s acrophobia may influence whether the child will continue to experience acrophobia later in life. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 14 July 2024

The experience catalyzes a quest to understand and overcome her acrophobia. —Eva Holland, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2020

Examples: acrophobia, the fear of heights; arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. —Kayla Webley Adler, Marie Claire, 8 July 2019

Latest Stories Virtual reality helped people with acrophobia, a fear of heights, overcome their fear and venture onto mountains and rope bridges, researchers said. —NBC News, 11 July 2018

Their acrophobia was reduced, according to both questionnaires and skin-conductance measurements. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2011

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian acrofobia, from acro- acro- + -fobia -phobia

First Known Use

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for acrophobia

• rhizobia
• agoraphobia
• claustrophobia
• homophobia
• hydrophobia
• photophobia
• xenophobia
• phobia

Kids Definition

acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌak-rə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: fear of heights

Medical Definition

acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌak-rə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: abnormal or pathological dread of being in a high place : fear of heights

acrophobic

-bik 

adjective