phobe

Phobe is a noun in English used to describe a person who has a persistent fear or aversion to a particular object, situation, or concept. It is also a productive suffix in compounds that name the person who fears or dislikes something, such as arachnophobe (fear of spiders), claustrophobe (fear of confined spaces), or xenophobe (fear or dislike of strangers or foreigners).

The term derives from the Greek phobos, meaning fear or dread. In English, phobe has been used both as a standalone noun and as a suffix to form descriptive terms for individuals. Many -phobe words are informal or colloquial, though some are widely understood and used in everyday language as labels.

Usage and nuance can vary. When applied to groups, terms like xenophobe or homophobe can carry negative or pejorative connotations. As a linguistic suffix, -phobe denotes the person associated with the fear rather than the fear itself; the corresponding condition is called a phobia (e.g., arachnophobia). The related adjective is phobic, as in arachnophobic. It is important to distinguish between casual usage and clinical terminology, since phobe terms are not formal medical diagnoses.

See also: phobia, phobic, and a range of -phobe terms that describe specific fears.