-phobia

a combining form meaning “fear,” occurring in loanwords from Greek (hydrophobia); on this model, used in the names of mental disorders that have the general sense “dread of, aversion toward” that specified by the initial element:

agoraphobia.

Origin

< Latin < Greek, equivalent to -phob(os) -phobe + -ia -ia

British Dictionary definitions for -phobia

-phobia

combining form

indicating an extreme abnormal fear of or aversion to: acrophobia, claustrophobia

Derived Forms

-phobic, combining_form:in_adjective

Word Origin

via Latin from Greek, from phobos fear

Word Origin and History for -phobia

word-forming element meaning "excessive or irrational fear of," from Latin -phobia and directly from Greek -phobia "panic fear of," from phobos "fear" (see phobia). In widespread popular use with native words from c.1800. Related: -phobic.

-phobia in Medicine

-phobia suff.
An intense, abnormal, or illogical fear of a specified thing: claustrophobia.