claustrophobia

[ klaw-struh-foh-bee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of being in small or confined places and being unable to escape.

claustrophobia

/ ˌklɔːstrəˈfəʊbɪə; ˌklɒs- /

noun

1. an abnormal fear of being closed in or of being in a confined space

claustrophobia

1. An abnormal fear of being shut in or enclosed.

Derived Forms

• ˈclaustroˌphobe, noun

Other Words From

• claus·tro·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of claustrophobia¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Latin claustr(um) “bolt” + -o- + -phobia; claustrum

Word History and Origins

Origin of claustrophobia¹

C19: from claustro-, from Latin claustrum cloister + -phobia

Example Sentences

As someone who has dealt with near-lifelong anxiety and bouts of claustrophobia, it may not come as a surprise that a surging and swaying crowd of thousands would be triggering for me.

From Salon

The film's strongest game is its homage factor, especially in the way it captures much of the original’s claustrophobia.

From Salon

“Game of Thrones” suffered from frustrating flaws, but its portrayal of the horror, blindness and claustrophobia of war remains unparalleled.

From Salon

For every set, though, walls were never moved for the camera’s sake, “so you’re true to the claustrophobia,” says Gropman, and in the case of the dingy New York SRO, “the meanness of that space.”

From Los Angeles Times

“As soon as stuff started happening, this sense of zen came over me, and that sense of claustrophobia went away,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times