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
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
Its leaders have been accused of xenophobia, antisemitism and the party campaigns on an aggressive anti-immigration platform.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
But mankind is united in its extreme xenophobia on Super Earth.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Fearing decline, the United States might lean toward protectionism and xenophobia, walling itself off rather than competing internationally, which would undermine its core strengths.
—Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
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 22 Jan. 2025.
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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