iatrophobia

noun

iat·​ro·​pho·​bia (ˌ)ī-ˌa-trō-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: intense fear of doctors

When confronted with the medical necessity to see a physician, the person with iatrophobia becomes anxious, may have chest pain, or shortness of breath.

—Michael Loguidice

She took my blood pressure and pulse (both on the high side, but then my acute iatrophobia—a terror of doctors—may partly account for that).

—Tom Utley

iatrophobe

(ˌ)ī-'a-trō-ˌfōb 

noun

plural iatrophobes

I am an iatrophobe; I avoid doctors as much as I can.

—John Derbyshire

iatrophobic

(ˌ)ī-ˌa-trō-ˈfō-bik 

adjective

iatrophobic adults

Word History

Etymology

Greek iātro-, combining form of iātrós "physician, healer" + -phobia — more at -iatry

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for iatrophobia

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