fobia
- An intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that leads to avoidance behavior and can significantly impair daily functioning. nounHer fobia of spiders prevented her from going into the garden.He sought therapy to overcome his fobia of flying.
- A generalized term used in some languages to refer to any type of phobia or irrational fear, often used colloquially or in non-technical contexts. nounMany people have a fobia of public speaking.His fobia of failure made him hesitant to try new things.