claustrophobia
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does claustrophobia mean? Claustrophobia is the fear of being in (and not being able to get out of) small or confined spaces, such as tunnels, elevators, and crowded rooms. Claustrophobia is recognized as a psychological disorder and is often considered a kind of anxiety disorder. Those who are diagnosed with it often experience extreme anxiety when in confined spaces or when facing the possibility of being in one, which can result in a panic attack. But the word claustrophobia is also commonly used in a more general way to refer to the anxious discomfort that many people feel when they’re in an enclosed space. (In this way, many people’s feelings of claustrophobia don’t constitute a disorder.)Phobias are fears associated with specific objects or activities. These abnormal (unusual) fears are typically considered irrational (not based on reason) because the object of the fear isn’t usually harmful. Often, these fears are formed around a traumatic event. A person who has claustrophobia can be described as claustrophobic. This adjective can also be used to describe confined spaces that may make people feel this way. People with claustrophobia were once commonly referred to with the term claustrophobe, and some may still identify in this way, but this and many other similar labels based on medical conditions are often considered dehumanizing. It is now typically preferred to avoid the use of the word claustrophobe and focus on the person first instead of their condition, as in Kevin has claustrophobia (not Kevin is a claustrophobe) and People with claustrophobia (not Claustrophobes) usually avoid driving in tunnels. Example: My claustrophobia prevents me from doing some things that other people take for granted, like taking the elevator.
Other Word Forms
- claustrophobe noun
- claustrophobic adjective
Etymology
Origin of claustrophobia
First recorded in 1875–80; from Latin claustr(um) “bolt” + -o- + -phobia; claustrum
Compare meaning
How does claustrophobia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chiu suffered permanent damage to his hearing and struggled with claustrophobia for years, while Tsui said the ordeal robbed him of his adventurous personality and made him "a different person".
From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025
Fumio Hayasaka’s music, with its overt hints of Ravel’s “Bolero,” adds a sense of claustrophobia to the imagery.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025
"It is an isolated environment, but I think this helps to give that kind of connection to being outside – to alleviate that sense of claustrophobia."
From BBC • May 14, 2025
The film's strongest game is its homage factor, especially in the way it captures much of the original’s claustrophobia.
From Salon • Aug. 16, 2024
Is it claustrophobia, fear of crowds, or common sense?
From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
