xenophobia
noun
ˌzē-
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If you look back to the ancient Greek terms that underlie the word xenophobia, you'll discover that xenophobic individuals are literally "stranger fearing." Xenophobia, that elegant-sounding name for an aversion to persons unfamiliar, ultimately derives from two Greek terms: xenos, which can be translated as either "stranger" or "guest," and phobos, which means either "fear" or "flight." Phobos is the ultimate source of all English -phobia terms, but many of those were actually coined in English or New Latin using the combining form -phobia. Xenophobia itself came to us by way of New Latin and first appeared in print in English in the late 19th century.
Examples of xenophobia in a Sentence
Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2024
Fear, xenophobia and discrimination throw foreboding shadows over their hopes, begging for heroes to appear.
—Wiki Proficiency, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2024
After Trump’s resounding victory in the Republican primary, the question was whether Trump would enter a downward spiral of grievance, intolerance, xenophobia, and conspiracy theorizing or try to broaden his base with a positive focus on economic growth and national strength.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Leadership grounded in empathy and inclusivity can offer a powerful response to the growing xenophobia, polarization, and refugee crises seen across the globe.
—Paul Klein, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for xenophobia 
Dictionary Entries Near xenophobia
Cite this Entry
“Xenophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xenophobia. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
xenophobia
noun
from Greek xeno- "strange, foreign" (from xenos "foreigner") and English phobia "an exaggerated fear"
Medical Definition
xenophobia
noun
ˌzēn-
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