xenophobe
C1Formal, journalistic, academic
Definition
Meaning
A person who has a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
More broadly, a person displaying strong prejudice, dislike, or aggression towards those perceived as foreign, alien, or culturally different. The term can also apply to those hostile towards ideas, practices, or influences originating from outside their own group.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries a strongly negative connotation and is typically used in accusatory or diagnostic contexts. It implies an irrational or unreasonable attitude. The related noun is 'xenophobia' and the adjective is 'xenophobic'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both varieties use the term identically in formal registers. In informal speech, both might use simpler terms like 'bigot'.
Connotations
Strongly pejorative in both varieties. In political discourse, the term is used with the same negative force.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media and political discourse, due to historical and contemporary debates on European immigration and integration. Common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be/labelled a ~be/branded a ~be/accused of being a ~act like a ~sound like a ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word. Often appears in descriptive phrases.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in discussions of diversity & inclusion, or when criticising protectionist or insular trade policies (e.g., 'The CEO was criticized as a xenophobe for refusing to hire foreign talent').
Academic
Frequent in sociology, political science, and cultural studies to describe and analyse prejudicial attitudes (e.g., 'The study profiles the typical xenophobe in post-industrial societies').
Everyday
Used in serious discussions about politics, immigration, or social attitudes. Less common in casual chat (e.g., 'His comments about refugees made him sound like a complete xenophobe').
Technical
Used in psychological or sociological profiling. Not a clinical diagnosis, but a descriptive social label.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No common verb form. Related verbal concept: 'to xenophobise' is extremely rare/non-standard.]
American English
- [No common verb form. One might say 'to act xenophobic' or 'to express xenophobia'.]
adverb
British English
- [The adverb is 'xenophobically'. Rare, but possible.] He argued xenophobically against any cultural exchange.
American English
- [The adverb is 'xenophobically'.] The law was seen as xenophobically motivated.
adjective
British English
- [The adjective is 'xenophobic'.] The columnist wrote a xenophobic tirade against the new arrivals.
- His xenophobic views were condemned by all major parties.
American English
- [The adjective is 'xenophobic'.] The talk show host was fired for his xenophobic remarks.
- They warned against xenophobic rhetoric during the election campaign.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too complex for A2. Use simpler terms like 'He doesn't like foreigners.']
- The politician was called a xenophobe because of his harsh words about immigrants.
- True xenophobes are afraid of people from different cultures.
- His campaign speeches appealed to xenophobes by blaming economic problems on foreign workers.
- Labelling someone a xenophobe is a serious accusation that should not be made lightly.
- The regime's propaganda deliberately cultivated a generation of xenophobes, portraying the outside world as inherently hostile.
- While criticising certain immigration policies is legitimate, his rhetoric crossed the line into that of an unapologetic xenophobe.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'XENO' means 'foreign' (like in 'xenomorph' – alien shape) and 'PHOBE' means 'fearer' (like in 'arachnophobe' – spider fearer). A xenophobe is a 'foreign-fearer'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION/ CULTURE AS A BODY: Foreign influence as a DISEASE or CONTAMINANT that the xenophobe seeks to purge. SPACE METAPHOR: The nation as a FORTRESS or HOME that must be defended from outsiders.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ksenofob' (ксенофоб) – it's a direct cognate with identical meaning. The trap is over-relying on the cognate instead of understanding the nuanced usage in English contexts.
- Avoid associating it only with extreme, violent racism; it can also describe milder but persistent insular attitudes.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: /ɛksˈɛn.ə.foʊb/ (incorrect stress on 'ex'). Correct stress is on first syllable: ZEN-uh-fobe.
- Confusing 'xenophobe' (person) with 'xenophobia' (the attitude).
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'He is very xenophobe'). Correct adjective is 'xenophobic'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST definition of a 'xenophobe'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Racism is prejudice based on perceived racial or biological difference. Xenophobia is prejudice based on perceived foreignness or cultural difference. A xenophobe might dislike anyone from another country, even if they are of the same race. The terms often overlap in practice.
'Xenophobe' is primarily a noun (a person). The adjective form is 'xenophobic'. A common mistake is saying 'He is very xenophobe' instead of the correct 'He is very xenophobic' or 'He is a xenophobe'.
Typically, no. Xenophobia specifically targets the 'foreign' or 'other'. If the prejudice is against a group within the same country, it would more accurately be described as racism, sectarianism, or regional prejudice.
Yes, it is used in formal, academic, journalistic, and political contexts. In everyday casual conversation, people might use simpler, more general terms like 'bigot' or say 'he's really prejudiced against foreigners'.
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