xenophobia

Definitions

xeno (Greek xenos, stranger or foreigner) + phob (fear) + -ia (state) = 'fear of the stranger.' But the word has hardened well past fear: in everyday use xenophobia means active dislike, distrust, or hostility toward foreigners and outsiders. The -phobia suffix here carries hatred as much as fear, the same way homophobia does.

Why It Means This

Although built from xenos 'stranger' + phobos 'fear,' xenophobia is rarely about literal fear. It names a social and political attitude: suspicion, prejudice, and hostility toward people seen as outsiders. This is the side of -phobia that means hatred rather than panic — the person who holds it is a xenophobe.

Common Collocations

• 1.rise of xenophobia仇外情绪上升
• 2.xenophobia and racism仇外和种族歧视
• 3.combat xenophobia对抗仇外
• 4.fuel xenophobia助长仇外情绪

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The new immigration law was criticized as a sign of rising xenophobia.

• 2.

  Economic crises often fuel xenophobia against migrant workers.

• 3.

  The campaign aimed to combat xenophobia and promote tolerance.

Easily Confused

xenophobia vs racism — racism targets people by race or ethnicity; xenophobia targets people for being foreign or 'not from here,' regardless of race. A person can be xenophobic toward immigrants of their own race. They often overlap but aren't the same.