Word
phobia
Phoneticspho·bia
US/ˈfoʊbiə/
UK/fˈəʊbiɐ/
Definitions
01irrational fear
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a very strong and unreasonable fear of a particular thing or situation.
n. an intense, persistent, and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that is often disproportionate to the actual danger.
“Her phobia of heights meant she could never enjoy the view from the balcony.”
“Clinical phobias often require cognitive behavioural therapy to help patients manage the physiological symptoms triggered by their specific triggers.”
Usage
Commonly follows the pattern 'phobia of [noun]' or appears as a suffix in words like 'claustrophobia'.
Pitfall
He has a phobia from spiders.
He has a phobia of spiders.
Use the preposition 'of' to indicate the object of the fear.
02strong dislike
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a very strong dislike or a feeling that you want to avoid something.
n. a strong aversion or antipathy toward something, used less formally than the clinical sense.
“He has a real phobia of modern technology and refuses to use a smartphone.”
“The director's well-known phobia of publicity made him a difficult subject for the documentary crew to track down.”
Teaching tip
In casual conversation, people use this to mean a strong dislike rather than a medical condition.
Etymology
First attested in c. 1790, from words ending in -phobia, ultimately from Ancient Greek φόβος (phóbos, “fear”). Compare ism, from -ism, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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