Lexic.us

Definition of Phobia

1. Noun. An anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situations. "Phobic disorder is a general term for all phobias"

Definition of Phobia

1. an obsessive or irrational fear [n -S]

Medical Definition of Phobia

1. A persistent, irrational, intense fear of a specific object, activity or situation (the phobic stimulus), fear that is recognised as being excessive or unreasonable by the individual himself. When a phobia is a significant source of distress or interferes with social functioning, it is considered a mental disorder, phobic disorder (or neurosis). In DSM III phobic disorders are subclassified as agoraphobia, social phobias and simple phobias. Used as a word termination denoting irrational fear of or aversion to the subject indicated by the stem to which it is affixed. Origin: Gr. Phobos = fear (16 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Phobia

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