coulrophobia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowMostly informal, semi-technical (in psychology contexts)
Quick answer
What does “coulrophobia” mean?
An irrational or intense fear of clowns.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An irrational or intense fear of clowns.
A specific phobia characterized by anxiety, panic, or aversion towards clowns, circus performers in clown makeup, or clown-like imagery, often cited in popular culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word itself is a modern coinage and used identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of a somewhat modern, media-discussed fear rather than a traditional clinical term.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, used primarily in entertainment, pop psychology, or casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “coulrophobia” in a Sentence
to have coulrophobiato suffer from coulrophobiaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coulrophobia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The film is so unsettling it could coulrophobise an entire generation.
- She felt herself coulrophobising at the sight of the painted smile.
American English
- That horror movie is designed to coulrophobize the audience.
- He coulrophobizes at the mere thought of the circus.
adverb
British English
- He recoiled coulrophobically from the poster.
- She reacted coulrophobically, hiding behind her friend.
American English
- She stared coulrophobically at the performer across the room.
- He backed away coulrophobically from the parade float.
adjective
British English
- His coulrophobic reaction was immediate when the children's entertainer arrived.
- She avoids the fairground due to coulrophobic tendencies.
American English
- The coulrophobic child burst into tears at the birthday party.
- It's a common coulrophobic response to find them creepy, not funny.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in psychology papers on specific phobias or cultural studies.
Everyday
Used conversationally to describe a personal or commonly referenced fear.
Technical
Used occasionally in clinical psychology/psychiatry to specify a type of specific phobia.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coulrophobia”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coulrophobia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coulrophobia”
- Mispronunciation: /ˌkɒl.rə-/ (like 'collar'), /ˌkuːl.roʊ-/ (like 'cool').
- Misspelling: 'colourophobia', 'coulraphobia'.
- Overuse as a clinical term when it is primarily colloquial.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While 'coulrophobia' is a widely used term, it is not an official diagnosis in manuals like the DSM-5. It would typically be classified under 'Specific Phobia' if it causes significant clinical distress.
Its etymology is uncertain but not classical Greek. It is a modern coinage, likely from a non-standard Greek-based construction (possibly from 'kolobathristes' meaning 'stilt-walker' or a similar word). It entered popular use in the 1980s.
Theories include the 'uncanny valley' effect (something almost human but not quite), the inability to see the person's true emotions behind the makeup, and negative cultural portrayals in horror media like Stephen King's 'It'.
Accurate statistics are hard to find as it is not a formally tracked diagnosis. Surveys suggest a significant minority of people, especially children, report a fear or strong dislike of clowns, but full-blown phobic reactions are less common.
An irrational or intense fear of clowns.
Coulrophobia is usually mostly informal, semi-technical (in psychology contexts) in register.
Coulrophobia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʊl.rəʊˈfəʊ.bi.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊl.roʊˈfoʊ.bi.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COULd a CLOWN cause PHOBIA?' The 'oulro' sounds like 'clown' with a mouthful of marbles.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE UNKNOWN (The hidden face/identity behind the makeup is a threat).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of 'coulrophobia'?