islamophobia
C1Formal, journalistic, academic, political.
Definition
Meaning
Intense dislike or prejudice against Islam or Muslims.
A social phenomenon encompassing fear, prejudice, discrimination, hostility, and violence towards Muslims or those perceived as Muslim. This includes systemic forms of discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, and media representation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Like other '-phobia' words denoting prejudice (e.g., homophobia, xenophobia), it refers to an irrational aversion or hostility, not a clinical phobia. It is a contested term in public discourse, with debate around its definition, scope, and application.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. The concept is widely used in both varieties, but the specific legal, political, and social contexts for discussing it differ.
Connotations
In both, it carries strong sociopolitical connotations. In the UK, it is often discussed in relation to integration, multiculturalism, and counter-terrorism policy (Prevent). In the US, discourse often links it to post-9/11 policies, immigration, and First Amendment debates.
Frequency
High frequency in political, academic, and media contexts in both regions. Slightly higher frequency in UK media due to longer-established public policy debates around the term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Islamophobia + [verb: is rising/exists/persists][verb: combat/condemn/fuel] + islamophobiaIslamophobia + [preposition: against/towards] + MuslimsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A wave of islamophobia”
- “The spectre of islamophobia”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in CSR/HR contexts regarding workplace discrimination and diversity training.
Academic
Frequent in sociology, political science, religious studies, and critical race theory, with specific theoretical frameworks.
Everyday
Used in news discussions and political commentary; less common in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in policy-making, human rights monitoring, and NGO reports with specific, operational definitions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The report aims to islamophobise the debate. (very rare, non-standard)
American English
- Politicians should not islamophobize their opponents. (very rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- He spoke islamophobically about the community. (rare)
American English
- The article was perceived as being written islamophobically. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The islamophobic rhetoric in certain tabloids is concerning.
- They launched an anti-islamophobic campaign.
American English
- He was accused of making islamophobic remarks.
- The policy had an unintended islamophobic effect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Islamophobia is a bad thing.
- Some people have islamophobia.
- The politician spoke against islamophobia in her speech.
- There are laws to fight islamophobia.
- A recent study documented a sharp increase in islamophobic incidents following the terrorist attack.
- Campaigners argue that media coverage often fuels islamophobia.
- The committee's report distinguished between legitimate theological critique and manifest islamophobia, highlighting the latter's role in fostering social exclusion.
- Conceptualising islamophobia as a form of cultural racism provides a more robust framework for analysing its systemic nature.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ISLAM' + 'PHOBIA' (fear). It's a fear or dislike specifically of Islam and its followers.
Conceptual Metaphor
ISLAMOPHOBIA IS A DISEASE / CONTAGION (e.g., 'a rising tide of islamophobia', 'to combat the spread of islamophobia'). ISLAMOPHOBIA IS A BARRIER / WALL (e.g., 'breaking down islamophobia').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'исламофобия' without understanding its loaded political meaning. The Russian term is a direct calque but may not carry the same conceptual weight or recognition of systemic discrimination.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'islamaphobia'. Using it to refer to legitimate criticism of Islamic doctrines or governments, which is a point of contention. Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an islamophobia').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of 'islamophobia'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The term generally refers to irrational prejudice, discrimination, or hostility. Scholarly or theological criticism of Islamic doctrines, practices, or political movements is typically not considered islamophobia unless it employs stereotypes or promotes hatred against Muslims as a group.
In many academic and policy contexts, yes. It is often analysed as a form of cultural or religious racism because it attributes negative characteristics to a group based on their (perceived) religion and leads to discrimination, even though Islam is a religion, not a race.
The term emerged in the late 20th century. It gained widespread currency in political and academic discourse in the 1990s, particularly after the 1997 Runnymede Trust report 'Islamophobia: A Challenge for Us All' in the UK.
They are often used synonymously. However, some make a distinction: 'Islamophobia' can encompass prejudice against the religion itself and its symbols, while 'anti-Muslim hatred' focuses more specifically on hostility towards Muslim people. In practice, they are deeply interconnected.