phobia

1 of 2

noun

pho·​bia ˈfō-bē-ə 

: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation

-phobia

2 of 2

noun combining form

1

: exaggerated fear of

acrophobia

2

: intolerance or aversion for

photophobia

Examples of phobia in a Sentence

Noun

His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Many people are scared of bats, and some people even have a complete phobia of them, called chiroptophobia. —Ruth Cronin, The Enquirer, 5 June 2024

There’s no need to keep your phobia a secret and suffer in silence, Sawhne stresses. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 22 May 2024

The studies in adults show short- and long-term reduction of symptoms, especially for patients with specific phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. —Bj Casey, Scientific American, 14 May 2024

Part of the reason for this phobia being so common is the rapid growth of the aviation industry. —Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

-phobia

Noun combining form

New Latin, from Late Latin, from Greek, from -phobos fearing, from phobos fear, flight, from phebesthai to flee; akin to Lithuanian bėgti to flee, Old Church Slavonic běžati

First Known Use

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

phobia

noun

pho·​bia ˈfō-bē-ə 

: an unreasonable, abnormal, and lasting fear of something

Medical Definition

phobia

noun

pho·​bia ˈfō-bē-ə 

: an exaggerated and often disabling fear usually inexplicable to the subject and having sometimes a logical but usually an illogical or symbolic object, class of objects, or situation compare compulsion, obsession