triskaidekaphobia

American  

[tris-kahy-dek-uh-foh-bee-uh, tris-kuh-] / ˌtrɪs kaɪˌdɛk əˈfoʊ bi ə, ˌtrɪs kə- /

noun

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of the number 13.

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triskaidekaphobia British  

/ ˌtrɪskaɪˌdɛkəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of the number thirteen

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Other Word Forms

• triskaidekaphobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of triskaidekaphobia

First recorded in 1910–15; from Greek triskaídeka “thirteen” + -phobia

Example Sentences

And many other airlines and airports avoid slapping the number 13 on aisles, flights and gates — sometimes out of logistics and other times because of triskaidekaphobia, according to the Wall Street Journal.

From Time

Other experts suspect even older roots for this form of triskaidekaphobia.

From National Geographic

Spieth didn't spell any of his words right, but he made a valiant attempt on "triskaidekaphobia."

From Golf Digest

Stephen King wrote a column about his own triskaidekaphobia         

From MSNBC

People who harbor a Friday the 13th superstition might have triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, and often pass on their belief to their children, he noted.

From National Geographic