agoraphobia

noun ag·o·ra·pho·bia \ ˌa-g(ə-)rə-ˈfō-bē-ə , ə-ˌgȯr-ə- \

Updated on: 25 Mar 2018

Definition of agoraphobia

: abnormal fear of being helpless in a situation from which escape may be difficult or embarrassing that is characterized initially often by panic or anticipatory anxiety and finally by the avoidance of open or public places

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agoraphobe

play \ˈa-g(ə-)rə-ˌfōb, ə-ˈgȯr-ə-\ noun

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agoraphobic

play \ˌa-g(ə-)rə-ˈfō-bik, ə-ˌgȯr-ə-\ adjective or noun

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Examples of agoraphobia in a Sentence

a patient suffering from agoraphobia

Recent Examples of agoraphobia from the Web

Fields, 28, said he has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, social anxiety, agoraphobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

— elisha anderson, Detroit Free Press, "Sumpter Township couple accused in death of 4-year-old held without bond," 20 Jan. 2018
According to the Appeals Court summary of the case: Hilt-Hayden has trouble seeing and hearing, and she has been diagnosed with agoraphobia, schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder.

— aimee green, OregonLive.com, "Mini-mart owner who shunned woman with service dogs must pay $60,000, Appeals Court says," 22 Feb. 2018
Fields said he has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, social anxiety, agoraphobia, a type of anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

— aleanna siacon, Detroit Free Press, "Couple accused in death of 4-year-old to undergo mental competency exams," 31 Jan. 2018
The attack came from Kenny’s agoraphobia, a condition that leaves her with a fear of her environment and makes travel immensely difficult.

— craig cavallo, CNT, "How an Agoraphobe Photographs the World Through Google Street View," 11 Aug. 2017
These are not people simply suffering from depression or anxiety or agoraphobia.

— vanityfair.com, "House G.O.P. Overturns Rule Restricting Mentally Ill People from Buying Guns," 3 Feb. 2017
These are not people simply suffering from depression or anxiety or agoraphobia.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "House G.O.P. Overturns Rule Restricting Mentally Ill People from Buying Guns," 3 Feb. 2017
These are not people simply suffering from depression or anxiety or agoraphobia.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "House G.O.P. Overturns Rule Restricting Mentally Ill People from Buying Guns," 3 Feb. 2017
Ativan is the brand name for lorazepam,a benzodiazepine, that is used to treat anxiety, drug withdrawal, agoraphobia and seizure disorders, among other things.

— martha ross, The Mercury News, "Was Chris Cornell taking ‘the world’s deadliest’ prescription medication?," 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agoraphobia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The agora was the marketplace in ancient Greece; thus, agoraphobia often involves fear of public places and crowds. But it also may involve fear of being in shops, or even fear of being in open spaces, or fear of traveling alone. It may also be a fear of experiencing some uncontrollable or embarrassing event (like fainting) in the presence of others with no help available. Agoraphobia can be hard to understand for those who don't suffer from it, especially because it can take so many different forms, but it is often a serious and socially crippling condition.

Origin and Etymology of agoraphobia

borrowed from German Agoraphobie, from Greek agorā-, combining form of agorá "place of assembly, ¹agora" + German -phobie -phobia

Note: The term was introduced by the German neurologist and psychiatrist Carl Friedrich Otto Westphal (1833-90) in "Die Agoraphobie, eine neuropathische Erscheinung," Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, Band 3, Heft 1 (1871), pp. 138-161. Westphal gives as his vernacular equivalent Platzfurcht.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1871

in the meaning defined above

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