triskaidekaphobia

American  

[tris-kahy-dek-uh-foh-bee-uh, tris-kuh-] / ˌtrɪs kaɪˌdɛk əˈfoʊ bi ə, ˌtrɪs kə- /

noun

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of the number 13.

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triskaidekaphobia British  

/ ˌtrɪskaɪˌdɛkəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of the number thirteen

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• triskaidekaphobic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of triskaidekaphobia

First recorded in 1910–15; from Greek triskaídeka “thirteen” + -phobia

Explanation

Triskaidekaphobia is the intense fear of the number thirteen. Triskaidekaphobia is why some architects design buildings without a thirteenth floor. Triskaidekaphobia is made of four ancient Greek components: tris, three; kai, and; deka, ten; and phobos, fear. That adds up: seventeen characters, minus 4 Greek components...that’s 13! Superstition, you say? A phobia, as opposed to a fear, is often very specific and very extreme. It is not a phobia to fear fire; it is a phobia to fear clowns (and the number thirteen).