acrophobia

American  

[ak-ruh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌæk rəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of heights.

   I knew my acrophobia would keep me off of the competitive diving platforms, but I was surprised when walking the diving board three feet above the pool deck also terrified me.

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acrophobia British  

/ ˌækrəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. abnormal fear or dread of being at a great height

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acrophobia Cultural  

1. An abnormal fear of heights.

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Other Word Forms

• acrophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of acrophobia

First recorded in 1890–95; acro-, -phobia

Example Sentences

“Did I ever tell you I have acrophobia?”

From Literature

Had I had acrophobia before, or did my subsequently lifelong case of it begin then and there?

From The New Yorker

Another program, Now I Can Do Heights, caters to people who suffer from acrophobia, by teleporting users to settings high above ground.

From The New Yorker

The effect is a kind of vertigo or acrophobia — exciting and unpleasant at the same time.

From Washington Post

It caused multiple audience members during a screening to have a mild case of acrophobia.

From Washington Times