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

The gender divide in our real world is underplayed in the “Arcane” universe, but relationships between individuals are contaminated by a similarly vicious strain of the x-word itself, xenophobia — in the “Arcane” universe, between residents of the symbiotic communities of Piltover and Zaun.

From Salon

What I would remind immigrant activists is that the Latino backlash against Proposition 187 was never the silver bullet against xenophobia that too many people made it out to be — and it was frankly hijacked by Democrats.

From Los Angeles Times

“He offered a message of xenophobia and misogyny and racism, of cruelty and darkness and hate. His lies were incredible, and it is terrible to see that Americans have not seen through him. This is very gloomy for those who believe in science, the rule of law, and in right and wrong. It undermines confidence in any leadership from the U.S. on international affairs.”

From Salon

“Over the next four years, the climate movement must stand immutably and materially against xenophobia and use every tool at its disposal to resist Trump's proposed mass deportation scheme and other attacks on immigrant and refugee communities,” Gaya said.

From Salon

Related Words

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