neophobia
C1Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The fear of new things or experiences.
An irrational or disproportionate aversion to novelty, innovation, or unfamiliar situations. It can manifest as resistance to change, new ideas, technology, or cultural shifts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in psychology, psychiatry, and cultural studies. It is a clinical and academic term, though sometimes used figuratively in general discourse. Contrasts with 'neophilia' (love of novelty).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Usage is equally technical in both variants.
Connotations
Carries the same psychological/clinical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, confined to academic and professional contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
neophobia towards [noun]neophobia about [noun/gerund]have/display/exhibit neophobiaVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe organisational or consumer resistance to new technologies, processes, or business models.
Academic
Common in psychological literature, studies of consumer behaviour, and gerontology.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might be used humorously or descriptively to label someone's dislike of new trends.
Technical
A specific diagnostic consideration in psychiatry (often as 'food neophobia' in paediatric contexts) and a variable in psychological research.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The patient presented as neophobic, rejecting any changes to his routine.
- A neophobic response to the updated software was widespread.
American English
- The patient presented as neophobic, resisting any changes to his routine.
- A neophobic reaction to the updated software was widespread.
adjective
British English
- He has a neophobic attitude towards modern art.
- The study focused on neophobic behaviour in the elderly.
American English
- He has a neophobic attitude toward modern art.
- The study focused on neophobic behavior in the elderly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her neophobia made it difficult to convince her to try the new restaurant.
- Technological neophobia is a real barrier for some older users.
- The company's culture of neophobia stifled innovation and left them lagging behind competitors.
- Food neophobia in early childhood has been linked to poorer dietary variety later in life.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'NEO' (new, like in Neoclassical or Neonatal) + 'PHOBIA' (fear). It's the fear of the *new*.
Conceptual Metaphor
NOVELTY IS A THREAT / THE UNKNOWN IS DANGEROUS
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'неофобия' as it is not a common word in Russian. The concept is more naturally expressed with phrases like 'страх нового' or 'боязнь всего нового'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'neofobia' (missing 'ph').
- Confusing with 'xenophobia' (fear of foreigners).
- Using it as a synonym for general 'anxiety' rather than a specific fear of novelty.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'neophobia' most precisely and frequently used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Neophobia is a fear or aversion to *new things or experiences*. Xenophobia is a fear or hatred of *foreigners or strangers*. They both involve fear of the unfamiliar, but the object of fear is different.
It's a formal, technical term. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 'fear of change,' 'set in their ways,' or 'doesn't like new things' rather than use 'neophobia.'
It is not a standalone disorder in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5. However, it can be a symptom of other conditions (e.g., anxiety disorders, OCD) or a specific behavioural trait, such as in 'food neophobia' in children.
The direct antonym is 'neophilia,' which denotes a strong enthusiasm for novelty and new experiences.