Xenophobia
An irrational fear or dislike of people from other countries; hostility toward foreigners.
nounXenophobia
An irrational fear or dislike of people from other countries; hostility toward foreigners.
nounImagine This
Xena, the princess warrior on TV, is actually afraid of foreigners and strangers.
Sounds Like
ZEN-oh-FOH-bee-uh
Looks Like
Xeno- (foreign) + -phobia (fear)
Remember This
Xeno- means foreign; -phobia means fear. The word comes from Greek xenos 'stranger' and phobos 'fear'.
Other Forms
Connect With
prejudice, discrimination, bigotry, intolerance
Note
Xenophobia refers to fear or hostility toward outsiders, not just a simple dislike of different cultures. Use carefully in contexts about prejudice or policy.
Study Deeper
- The rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric reflected xenophobia.
- Xenophobia can hinder a nation's ability to engage with global communities.
From Greek xenos 'stranger' + phobos 'fear'; entered English via Latinized form xenophobia.
XENO + PHOBIA = FEAR OF THE FOREIGN. Remember by connecting 'xeno' with foreign and 'phobia' with fear.
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nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).