androphobia

American  

[an-druh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌæn drəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

1. an extreme fear or dislike of men.

---

Other Word Forms

• androphobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of androphobia

First recorded in 1850–55; andro- + -phobia

Explanation

Androphobia is an irrational, overwhelming fear of men. Since there are billions of adult men in the world, living with androphobia can be extremely difficult. Preferring women or children over grown men isn't the same as suffering from androphobia. This mental health condition causes sufferers to become extremely anxious when they're around men, making it difficult to function. Androphobia is from the Greek prefix andro-, "a man," and phobia, "fear or terror." Someone who's diagnosed with androphobia may have had a traumatic experience with a man that led to their terror; various kinds of therapy can help people overcome the disorder.