specific phobia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Clinical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “specific phobia” mean?
An intense, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little to no actual danger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An intense, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little to no actual danger.
A type of anxiety disorder classified in diagnostic manuals (e.g., DSM-5, ICD-11) where the fear leads to significant distress or impairment, often resulting in avoidance behaviour. The fear is triggered immediately upon exposure and is disproportionate to the actual threat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows regional norms (e.g., 'behaviour' vs. 'behavior' in clinical texts).
Connotations
Identical clinical connotations. The term is standard in psychiatric/psychological discourse in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in professional/clinical contexts in both regions. Rare in everyday casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “specific phobia” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/developed a specific phobia of [object]A specific phobia concerning [situation] was diagnosed.The specific phobia manifests as [symptom].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “specific phobia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The anxiety can phobia-size ordinary situations.
- Not typically used as a verb.
American English
- Not standard verb usage. 'To phobia' is non-standard.
adverb
British English
- He reacted phobically to the sight of blood.
- Not commonly used.
American English
- She responded phobically, panicking instantly.
- Rare adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The phobic reaction was immediate.
- She received phobia-specific cognitive behavioural therapy.
American English
- His phobic response was severe.
- The therapy targets phobia-related avoidance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in workplace wellbeing discussions: 'Accommodations for an employee with a specific phobia.'
Academic
Common in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience texts discussing anxiety disorders, aetiology, and treatment efficacy.
Everyday
Uncommon. Laypeople more likely to say 'fear of heights' or 'spider phobia'.
Technical
The standard diagnostic term in clinical psychology and psychiatry, used in assessment, formulation, and research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “specific phobia”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “specific phobia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “specific phobia”
- Using 'phobia' non-clinically (e.g., 'I have a phobia of Monday mornings').
- Confusing it with 'social phobia' or 'agoraphobia'.
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'specific phobias' (correct), not 'specific phobiae'.
- Misspelling as 'speciffic phobia'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A specific phobia is a clinical diagnosis where the fear causes significant distress or impairment and is out of proportion to the actual danger. Everyday fears are typically less intense and disabling.
Common categories include animal phobias (e.g., spiders, dogs), natural environment phobias (e.g., heights, storms), situational phobias (e.g., flying, enclosed spaces), and blood-injection-injury phobia.
The first-line, evidence-based treatment is psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure therapy. In some cases, medication may be used for short-term management of anxiety symptoms.
Yes. While many specific phobias begin in childhood, they can also develop in adolescence or adulthood, sometimes following a traumatic event.
An intense, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little to no actual danger.
Specific phobia is usually technical / clinical / academic in register.
Specific phobia: in British English it is pronounced /spəˌsɪfɪk ˈfəʊbiə/, and in American English it is pronounced /spəˌsɪfɪk ˈfoʊbiə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Scared stiff of...”
- “Have a mortal fear of...”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SPECIFIC' = one particular thing; 'PHOBIA' = fear. A SPECIFIC PHOBIA is a fear pinpointed to one specific trigger.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEAR IS A CAPTOR ("paralyzed by fear"), FEAR IS AN ILLNESS ("suffering from a phobia"), THE FEARED OBJECT IS A MONSTER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of a specific phobia?