teratophobia

English

Etymology

terato- (“pertaining to birth defects”) +‎ -phobia (“fear”), from Ancient Greek τέρας (téras, “monster”).

Noun

teratophobia (uncountable)

  1. (rare) An irrational fear of monsters (terrifying creatures, or deformed children).
    • For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:teratophobia.

Usage notes

  • Terato- originated at a time when deformed children were termed "monsters"; this practice is now archaic, but the prefix lives on.

Further reading

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