claustrophobia

American  

[klaw-struh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌklɔ strəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of being in small or confined places and being unable to escape.

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claustrophobia British  

/ ˌklɔːstrəˈfəʊbɪə, ˌklɒs- /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of being closed in or of being in a confined space

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claustrophobia Cultural  

1. An abnormal fear of being shut in or enclosed.

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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; see claustrum

Compare meaning

How does claustrophobia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• agoraphobia vs. claustrophobia

Explanation

Claustrophobia is an irrational or abnormal fear of being in an enclosed space. If your heart races in an elevator, or you break out in a cold sweat in a walk-in closet, you might have claustrophobia. Claustrophobia is made of ancient Latin words. Phobia means "fear," and claustro means "bolt" — the kind you put on a door. Broadly speaking, the opposite of claustrophobia is agoraphobia, which is the fear of open spaces. For fun, try adding "-phobia" to your own personal source of dread! For example, “math-phobia.”

Example Sentences

The effect instead is one of claustrophobia, an especially embarrassing misstep when it comes to a work about liberation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

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

The court was told Gaberova had been diagnosed with depression, panic disorder, claustrophobia and anxiety.

From BBC • May 12, 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

Thick fog was all I could see out my window in the morning, and I could feel the claustrophobia creeping up on me.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer