xenophobia
Americannoun
-
an aversion or hostility to, disdain for, or fear of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers.
Xenophobia and nationalism can be seen as a reaction to the rise of globalization.
-
fear or dislike of the customs, dress, etc., of people who are culturally different from oneself.
Learning a foreign language can help to overcome xenophobia.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of xenophobia
First recorded in 1890–95; xeno- “foreign, strange” + -phobia “fear”
Explanation
Getting a job as a greeter with the United Nations is probably not the best career option for someone who suffers from xenophobia, a fear of foreigners or strangers. Xenophobia has its roots in fear — literally. Phobia comes from the Greek word meaning "fear." Given that the fear in question is of strangers, it makes sense that xeno- comes from the Greek word for — you guessed it — "stranger, foreigner." In the case of xenophobia, the fear is irrational. Someone who is xenophobic might distrust a neighbor he's never met, or a sheikh who lives halfway around the world. Xenophobia is like racism, but instead of fearing or distrusting people because of the color of their skin, you fear or distrust them because of their nationality, or because they are — or seem — foreign to you.
Vocabulary lists containing xenophobia
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
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100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
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Phobia Fever
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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.
"There is no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa," he said, explaining his coalition government's five-point strategy to deal with the crisis.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
South Africa's government has meanwhile rejected accusations of xenophobia and urged other African nations to address the economic and governance crises driving migration.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
Of course, artists alone will not save us from the perils of racism and xenophobia — I learned that from my time in the punk community.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026
Yet I now realize that Islamophobia is real, as is xenophobia.
From Salon • Dec. 21, 2025
Competing influences, paranoia, xenophobia and adverse circumstances all conspired to fracture the religious landscape.
From Terrorists and Freedom Fighters by Vaknin, Samuel
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.
