nyctophobia

[ nik-tuh-foh-bee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of night or nighttime darkness: Compare scotophobia.

   My nyctophobia is debilitating during the short days and long nights of winter.

nyctophobia

/ ˌnɪktəʊˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. psychiatry an abnormal dread of night or darkness

Derived Forms

• ˌnyctoˈphobic, adjective

Other Words From

• nyc·to·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nyctophobia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; nycto- + -phobia

Word History and Origins

Origin of nyctophobia¹

nyct-, from Greek nukt-, nux night + -phobia

Example Sentences

It sometimes presents itself with related phobias, including phasmophobia, the fear of ghosts; wiccaphobia, the fear of witchcraft; and nyctophobia, the fear of darkness.

From Forbes