xenophobia
noun
ˌzē-
Did you know?
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
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025
Any agreement that fails to deliver tangible and immediate economic gains is likely only to fuel stronger demands for protectionism, trepidation about globalization, and feelings of xenophobia and distrust.
—William Hurst, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025
Their 7-year-old daughter, Ruth, tries to assimilate into her new life in the Midwest, forgetting most of her Spanish and smoothing the edges of the prejudice and xenophobia around her (including among her father’s family).
—Esmeralda Santiago, New York Times, 21 May 2025
At a time when xenophobia and federal scrutiny of immigrants are unfortunately, horrifically back in the news, the series certainly channels the zeitgeist as the highbrow studio likes to.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for xenophobia
Cite this Entry
“Xenophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xenophobia. Accessed 21 Jul. 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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