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.

---

triskaidekaphobia British  

/ ˌtrɪskaɪˌdɛkəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of the number thirteen

---

Other Word 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).

Example Sentences

The superstition starts with the dread of the number 13 or "triskaidekaphobia."

From DOGO News • Oct. 9, 2023

Twelve to 14 percent of teenagers have triskaidekaphobia.

From Washington Post • Feb. 21, 2019

Spieth missed his three - zoysia, logorrhea and triskaidekaphobia.

From Washington Times • Aug. 26, 2016

Stephen King wrote a column about his own triskaidekaphobia         

From MSNBC • May 13, 2016

But he suffered from triskaidekaphobia, which is a showboating way to say that he had a fear of the number 13.

From New York Times • May 18, 2010