| 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. |
An extreme and often unreasonable fear of some object, concept, situation, or person.
phobia pho·bi·a (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.
-phobia suff.
An intense, abnormal, or illogical fear of a specified thing: claustrophobia.