acrophobia

[ ak-ruh-foh-bee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of heights:

   I knew my acrophobia would keep me off of the competitive diving platforms, but I was surprised when walking the diving board three feet above the pool deck also terrified me.

acrophobia

/ ˌækrəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. abnormal fear or dread of being at a great height

acrophobia

1. An abnormal fear of heights.

Derived Forms

• ˌacroˈphobic, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• ac·ro·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acrophobia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; acro-, -phobia

Word History and Origins

Origin of acrophobia¹

C19: from acro- + -phobia

Example Sentences

“Did I ever tell you I have acrophobia?”

From Literature

Had I had acrophobia before, or did my subsequently lifelong case of it begin then and there?

From The New Yorker

Another program, Now I Can Do Heights, caters to people who suffer from acrophobia, by teleporting users to settings high above ground.

From The New Yorker

The effect is a kind of vertigo or acrophobia — exciting and unpleasant at the same time.

From Washington Post

It caused multiple audience members during a screening to have a mild case of acrophobia.

From Washington Times