xenophobia

[ zen-uh-foh-bee-uh, zee-nuh- ]

noun

1. an aversion or hostility to, disdain for, or fear of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers:

   Xenophobia and nationalism can be seen as a reaction to the rise of globalization.

2. fear or dislike of the customs, dress, etc., of people who are culturally different from oneself:

   Learning a foreign language can help to overcome xenophobia.

xenophobia

/ ˌzɛnəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture

xenophobia

1. An unreasonable fear, distrust, or hatred of strangers, foreigners, or anything perceived as foreign or different.

Derived Forms

• ˌxenoˈphobic, adjective

Other Words From

• xen·o·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenophobia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; xeno- “foreign, strange” + -phobia “fear”

Example Sentences

For the last four years, he has taught US history to high schoolers - including details of how waves of immigrants from Italy, Ireland, China, Japan and Mexico settled in the country, and often faced xenophobia.

From BBC

Rancho libertarians were seen as antiquated vendidos — sellouts — who would drown in the progressive blue wave that had covered California due to GOP xenophobia and that was now spreading across the country.

From Los Angeles Times

However, Hinchcliffe is being met with allegations of xenophobia and racism from the public after he called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."

From Salon

Behind the hate, the xenophobia, the racism, the promises of retribution and the eerie echoes of the 1939 Nazi rally at the Garden, the event was the epitome of Trump’s version of politics as entertainment.

From Salon

With that caveat in mind, researchers have found that conservatives tend to score higher on measures of disgust sensitivity, xenophobia, ingroup loyalty, deference to traditional authority, need for sanctity and concern for purity.

From Salon

Related Words

• animosity
• bias
• bigotry
• chauvinism
• discrimination
• enmity
• injustice
• intolerance
• preconception
• predilection
• predisposition
• racism
• sexism