arachnophobia

American  

[uh-rak-nuh-foh-bee-uh] / əˌræk nəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of spiders.

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arachnophobia British  

/ əˌræknəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of spiders

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Other Word Forms

• arachnophobe noun
• arachnophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of arachnophobia

First recorded in 1925–30; from Greek aráchn(ē) “spider” + -o- ( def. ) + -phobia

Explanation

If you suffer from arachnophobia, you have a paralyzing fear of spiders. Your arachnophobia might make you too terrified to venture into basements, attics, and barns — or to read "Charlotte's Web." The vast majority of people are at least a little leery of eight-legged creatures, but someone with a true case of arachnophobia will often suffer a panic attack if he sees — or even think about seeing — a spider. The word arachnophobia comes from two roots, arachnid, "spider," from the Greek arakhne, "spider or spider's web," and phobia, "fear," from the Greek phobos.

Example Sentences

If you suffer from arachnophobia, this is the time of year when you’re most likely to run into one of your worst nightmares: a tarantula.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025

One example is a new setting that allows players with severe arachnophobia to remove the eight-legged creatures - which feature heavily in the world - from the game.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2024

Less than 4 percent of humans suffer from arachnophobia, but general unease is much more common.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2022

In the film, Dr. Ross Jennings suffers from arachnophobia but ultimately saves his town from a deadly spider infestation.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2022

Negri said he began raising spiders to overcome arachnophobia, and now has 60.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 23, 2021