phobia
[ foh-bee-uh ]
/ ˈfoʊ bi ə /
noun
a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.
Origin of phobia
First recorded in 1780–90; extracted from nouns ending in
-phobia
Words nearby phobia
phlyctenule,
phlyctenulosis,
phm.,
phnom penh,
pho,
phobia,
phobic,
phobophobia,
phobos,
phocaea,
phocine
Definition for phobia (2 of 2)
-phobia
a combining form meaning “fear,” occurring in loanwords from Greek (hydrophobia); on this model, used in the names of mental disorders that have the general sense “dread of, aversion toward” that specified by the initial element: agoraphobia.
Example sentences from the Web for phobia
British Dictionary definitions for phobia (1 of 2)
phobia
/ (ˈfəʊbɪə) /
noun
psychiatry
an abnormal intense and irrational fear of a given situation, organism, or object
Word Origin for phobia
C19: from Greek
phobos fear
British Dictionary definitions for phobia (2 of 2)
-phobia
n combining form
indicating an extreme abnormal fear of or aversion to
acrophobia; claustrophobia
Derived forms of -phobia
-phobic, adj combining formWord Origin for -phobia
via Latin from Greek, from
phobos fear
Medical definitions for phobia (1 of 2)
phobia
[ fō′bē-ə ]
n.
A persistent, abnormal, or irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid the feared stimulus.
A strong fear, dislike, or aversion.
Medical definitions for phobia (2 of 2)
-phobia
suff.
An intense, abnormal, or illogical fear of a specified thing:claustrophobia.
Cultural definitions for phobia
phobia
[ (foh-bee-uh) ]
An extreme and often unreasonable fear of some object, concept, situation, or person.