coprophobia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 / RareClinical / Technical / Formal
Quick answer
What does “coprophobia” mean?
An irrational, excessive fear of faeces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An irrational, excessive fear of faeces.
A psychological condition characterised by persistent, intense anxiety or disgust in response to encountering, thinking about, or being near faeces. It can extend to fear of associated objects (toilets, sewage) or situations (public restrooms), and may significantly impact daily life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None for the word itself. The associated spelling (faeces vs. feces) differs: 'coprophobia' can be paired with either 'faeces' (UK) or 'feces' (US) in explanatory text.
Connotations
Identically clinical in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general use, but standard within psychology/psychiatry texts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “coprophobia” in a Sentence
[Person] + suffers from/has + coprophobiaThe therapist + diagnosed + [Person] + with + coprophobiaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coprophobia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient coprophobically avoided any public toilet.
- (Note: 'coprophobe' as verb is extremely rare; periphrasis like 'suffer from coprophobia' is standard.)
American English
- Her anxiety coprophobically manifested around diaper changes.
- (Note: 'coprophobe' as verb is extremely rare; periphrasis like 'suffer from coprophobia' is standard.)
adverb
British English
- She reacted coprophobically to the sight of the soiled nappy.
- (Very rare usage)
American English
- He coprophobically insisted on gloves and a mask for cleanup.
- (Very rare usage)
adjective
British English
- The coprophobic individual insisted on having a personal, chemical toilet installed.
American English
- His coprophobic reactions made camping trips impossible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in psychology, psychiatry, and medical literature. Precise and clinical.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only appear in discussions of mental health or specific phobias.
Technical
Core term in clinical psychology/psychiatry for a specific phobia.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coprophobia”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coprophobia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coprophobia”
- Confusing 'coprophobia' (fear) with 'coprophilia' (attraction).
- Using it in non-clinical contexts where it sounds overly technical and jarring.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is recognised as a specific phobia under anxiety disorders in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5.
Coprophobia involves an irrational, excessive fear that leads to significant anxiety, avoidance behaviour, and impairment in daily life, far exceeding a normal feeling of disgust.
Yes, like other specific phobias, it is often treatable with therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.
The opposite, in clinical terms, is coprophilia, which denotes an abnormal attraction to or interest in faeces.
An irrational, excessive fear of faeces.
Coprophobia is usually clinical / technical / formal in register.
Coprophobia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒprəˈfəʊbiə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːprəˈfoʊbiə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No established idioms use this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'COPRO' like in 'coprolite' (fossilised faeces) + 'PHOBIA' (fear).
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRT IS DANGER; THE BODY'S WASTE IS A CONTAMINANT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary field where the term 'coprophobia' is used?