agoraphobia
noun
Did you know?
The agora was the marketplace in ancient Greece; thus, agoraphobia often involves fear of public places and crowds. But it also may involve fear of being in shops, or even fear of being in open spaces, or fear of traveling alone. It may also be a fear of experiencing some uncontrollable or embarrassing event (like fainting) in the presence of others with no help available. Agoraphobia can be hard to understand for those who don't suffer from it, especially because it can take so many different forms, but it is often a serious and socially crippling condition.
Example Sentences
Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Cecil Jackson, who has agoraphobia, says his life has completely changed after undergoing therapy and speaking about his struggles publicly with CBS News. David Begnaud, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2022 Patton recorded his vocals alone at his home studio, which wouldn’t be a big deal if he hadn’t been diagnosed with agoraphobia during the pandemic. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2022 These can easily develop into severe agoraphobia, which can significantly impact lives and relationships. Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 30 June 2022 The program is designed to attenuate the agoraphobia, or fear of entering spaces from which escape might be difficult, that individuals with schizophrenia often feel. Raleigh Mcelvery, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2022 Jackson has missed family weddings, birthdays and even funerals because of agoraphobia. David Begnaud, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2022 The dogs became her main companions, hunkering down with her at home as her reclusiveness veered into agoraphobia. Lauren Smiley, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022 Angela suffers from acute anxiety and agoraphobia following an assault, and thus never leaves her lavish Seattle apartment, which is technologically optimized for perpetual isolation. Vikram Murthi, The Week, 11 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from German Agoraphobie, from Greek agorā-, combining form of agorá "place of assembly, agora entry 1" + German -phobie -phobia
Note: The term was introduced by the German neurologist and psychiatrist Carl Friedrich Otto Westphal (1833-90) in "Die Agoraphobie, eine neuropathische Erscheinung," Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, Band 3, Heft 1 (1871), pp. 138-161. Westphal gives as his vernacular equivalent Platzfurcht.
circa 1871, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
agoraphobia
noun