mysophobia

[ mahy-suh-foh-bee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of germs and contamination.

Other Words From

• my·so·phobe [mahy, -s, uh, -fohb], noun
• my·so·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mysophobia¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Greek mýso(s) “pollution, defilement, terrible sight” + -phobia