agoraphobia

[ ag-er-uh-foh-bee-uh, uh-gawr‐ ]
/ ˌæg ər əˈfoʊ bi ə, əˌgɔr‐ /

noun Psychiatry.

an irrational or disproportionate fear of being in crowds, public places, or open areas, often accompanied by anxiety attacks: in extreme cases, avoidance behaviors may render affected individuals homebound.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Compare ochlophobia.

Origin of agoraphobia

First recorded in 1870–75; agora1 + -phobia

Words nearby agoraphobia

a good deal, good egg, a, A good man is hard to find, good many, a, agora, agoraphobia, agoraphobic, Agostini, Agostino di Duccio, agouta, agouti
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for agoraphobia

British Dictionary definitions for agoraphobia

agoraphobia
/ (ˌæɡərəˈfəʊbɪə) /

noun

a pathological fear of being in public places, often resulting in the sufferer becoming housebound

Derived forms of agoraphobia

agoraphobic, adjective, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for agoraphobia

agoraphobia
[ ăg′ər-ə-fō′bē-ə ]

n.

Phobia of open or public places.

Other words from agoraphobia

ag′o•ra•pho′bic adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.