agoraphobic

1 of 2

adjective

ag·​o·​ra·​pho·​bic ˌa-g(ə-)rə-ˈfō-bik 

ə-ˌgȯr-ə-

: relating to, affected with, or inclined to agoraphobia : abnormally fearful of open or public spaces from which escape (as during a panic attack) may be difficult or impossible

an agoraphobic patient

My mother was agoraphobic, which means she was often housebound, terrified of stores, cars and crowds.

—Michael Christie

I'm sure it was a really good camp, and I bet all but the most agoraphobic kids would have a great time there.

—John Kelly

agoraphobic

2 of 2

noun

plural agoraphobics

: a person who has an abnormal fear of open or public spaces : a person affected with agoraphobia : agoraphobe

Experts say agoraphobics usually associate their panic with the place they first experience it …

—Lena Williams

Because of this fear, agoraphobics map out safe zones (their homes, usually) and retreat into private worlds, which can become prisons.

—Michael Christie

Examples of agoraphobic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Recovering/waking up at at the hospital, agoraphobic Zeke has a panic attack. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 3 Oct. 2024

Directed by Jon Amiel, the psychological thriller stars Weaver as a forensic psychologist who becomes agoraphobic after a near-fatal encounter with one of her subjects — Connick’s psychotic serial killer Daryll Lee Cullum — at the beginning of the film. —EW.com, 20 July 2024

Noun

Watching the fireworks from the Esplanade—roughly between the Museum of Science down to the Boston University Bridge—is a quintessential Boston experience, but not suggested for the agoraphobic. —Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1878, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

agoraphobic

1 of 2 adjective

ag·​o·​ra·​pho·​bic -ˈfō-bik 

: of, relating to, or affected with agoraphobia

agoraphobic attacks

an agoraphobic patient

agoraphobic

2 of 2 noun

variants or agoraphobe

ˈag(-ə)-rə-ˌfōb 

also agoraphobiac

ˌag(-ə)-rə-ˈfō-bē-ˌak 

: a person affected with agoraphobia