xenophobic
Americanadjective
-
relating to or exhibiting fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers.
-
relating to or exhibiting fear or dislike of the customs, dress, etc., of people who are culturally different.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of xenophobic
First recorded in 1910–15; xenophob(ia) + -ic
Explanation
Someone who is xenophobic is abnormally hostile toward foreigners. If you don't want any foreign people in your town, then you're xenophobic. Xenophobic comes from the Greek and literally means "fear of strangers," although when we talk about someone who is xenophobic, we're talking about someone who has converted fear into hatred or contempt. Sometimes people who discriminate against foreigners or feel very strongly that no one should be allowed to immigrate to their country are also called xenophobic.
Vocabulary lists containing xenophobic
Speak
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Never Fear: Phobia, Phobic
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week In Words: April 19–25, 2020
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The promotional clip, shared across the council's various social media accounts, generated many comments criticising the former Daily Show host for promoting South Africa but failing to call out xenophobic attitudes.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
On Wednesday, an online petition titled "Ban Tyla from entering Nigeria until xenophobic attacks stop in South Africa" was launched in Nigeria and it has already attracted thousands of signatures.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Spain's current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the remark as "xenophobic".
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
Her legal team described the businessman as a Russian-born exile and outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing that Pitt’s claims amounted to an inaccurate and xenophobic attempt to discredit him.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
Background: In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy.
From The 2002 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
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.
