aquaphobia

American  

[ak-wuh-foh-bee-uh, ah-kwuh‑] / ˌæk wəˈfoʊ bi ə, ˌɑ kwə‑ /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of water, especially anxiety in deep water or when submerging one's face in water.

   He'd almost drowned as a child and never got over his subsequent aquaphobia.

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aquaphobia British  

/ ˌækwəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of water, esp because of the possibility of drowning Compare hydrophobia

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Other Word Forms

• aquaphobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of aquaphobia

First recorded in 1875–80; aqua- + -phobia

Example Sentences

The organization doesn't have numbers on aquaphobia, or fear of the water.

From Los Angeles Times

He had aquaphobia, a nasty case of it.

From New York Times

He didn’t fear baths or rain, as some aquaphobia sufferers do.

From New York Times

To defeat aquaphobia, you have to get wet.

From New York Times

She was working on a video about aquaphobia that she hoped to sell.

From New York Times