Phobia

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfəʊbiÉ™/
• Rhymes: -əʊbiÉ™

Origin

c 1790, from words ending in -phobia, from Ancient Greek φόβος (phobos, "fear"). Compare ism, from -ism, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.

Full definition of phobia

Noun

1. An irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety, usually of or about something particular.I know someone with a strange phobia of ladders.

Related terms

• -phobe
• -phobia
• -phobic

Derived terms

Hyponyms

• See .