xenophile

[ zen-uh-fahyl, zee-nuh- ]

noun

1. a person who is attracted to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs.

xenophile

/ ˈzɛnəˌfaɪl /

noun

1. a person who likes foreigners or things foreign

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenophile¹

First recorded in 1945–50; xeno- + -phile

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenophile¹

C19: from Greek, from xeno- + -phile

Example Sentences

“Yang means foreign. Yang-san means foreign umbrella. They were called that because before Liberation we had to import them. Now we make them in China. So why do you still call it a yang-san? Doesn’t that show that you’re a xenophile who worships anything foreign?”

From Literature

West Indian Author V. S. Naipaul, visiting India for the first time, records in his book Area of Darkness the xenophile plaint of a Delhi housewife: "I am just craze for foreign, just craze for foreign."

From Time Magazine Archive

More About Xenophile

What is a xenophile?

A xenophile is someone who is attracted to foreign people, places, and customs.

If you love learning about different cultures from around the world and get excited about visiting different countries to experience how other people leave, you can describe yourself as a xenophile.

But you don’t have to travel the world to be a xenophile. You can learn about other cultures’ customs at home. It might be as simple as learning to cook foods from other cultures, listening to other cultures’ music, and exploring their language and art in your favorite medium.

Example: When Zeke visits other countries, they become a bit of a xenophile, learning everything they can during the trip.

Where does xenophile come from?

The first records of the term xenophile come from around the 1940s. It combines the combining form xeno-, meaning “alien,” “strange,” or “guest,” and the combining form -phile, meaning “lover of,” or “enthusiast for.”

Xenophile is sometimes used in contrast to xenophobe, which is more commonly used. A xenophobe is someone who dislikes or fears other cultures and sometimes the people from those cultures. While xenophiles may embrace a more open and diverse population in their home country or community, many xenophobes prefer a closed, uniform population, not wanting people, businesses, or influences from other cultures. Such communities tend to be very fearful of anything different.

Did you know … ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with xenophile?  xenophilia xenophobe xenophobia xenophobic What are some words that often get used in discussing xenophile? art culture behavior cuisine custom What are some words xenophile may be commonly confused with? xenophobe

How is xenophile used in real life?

People often use xenophile to describe themselves or others in relation to their passion for other cultures.

Wes Yang always tells me I'm a "xenophile", and…yeah. Seems to me that a xenophile is a great thing to be. Everyone is so weird and different that if you want to like people, learn to appreciate the weird and different!

— Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 (@Noahpinion) July 22, 2021

I Love coming to Europe and visiting my Awesome Friends! I guess you can call me a Xenophile!

— Norm Lewis (@normlewis777) October 3, 2013

Me: Where do you want to eat tonight? Mom: I don't know; what country will you have us traveling to? LOL #sorryMom #xenophile

— Tamerra Griffin (@tamerra_nikol) March 15, 2012

Try using xenophile!

Is xenophile used correctly in the following sentence?

People sometimes think a xenophile just loves another culture’s food and music, but there is more to every culture.