acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: abnormal dread of being in a high place : fear of heights

acrophobe

ˈa-krə-ˌfōb 

noun

acrophobic

ˌa-krə-ˈfō-bik 

adjective

Examples of acrophobia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One belief is that how a parent handles their child’s acrophobia may influence whether the child will continue to experience acrophobia later in life. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 14 July 2024

Their acrophobia was reduced, according to both questionnaires and skin-conductance measurements. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2011

The experience catalyzes a quest to understand and overcome her acrophobia. —Eva Holland, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2020

Examples: acrophobia, the fear of heights; arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. —Kayla Webley Adler, Marie Claire, 8 July 2019

Latest Stories Virtual reality helped people with acrophobia, a fear of heights, overcome their fear and venture onto mountains and rope bridges, researchers said. —NBC News, 11 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian acrofobia, from acro- acro- + -fobia -phobia

First Known Use

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌak-rə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: fear of heights

Medical Definition

acrophobia

noun

ac·​ro·​pho·​bia ˌak-rə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: abnormal or pathological dread of being in a high place : fear of heights

acrophobic

-bik 

adjective