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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

clownophobia en · NOUN

Etymology

From clown + -o- + -phobia.

Meanings

  1. (informal, rare, uncountable) The fear of clowns.
    • While most of us see Ronald McDonald as a nice corporate symbol, the 8% of the population that suffers from clownophobia (more properly called coulrophobia) view him as evil incarnate. 2003, Richard Crouse, The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen, ECW Press, →ISBN, page 130:
    • Seriously, my girlfriend said the exact same thing when I told her she was far from alone in her clownophobia. 2003 December 20, Brian Christgau, “Re: OT -- Clowns... creepy?”, in misc.writing.screenplays (Usenet):
    • A facile, pop-psych explanation would unearth the roots of clownophobia in childhood traumas. 1997, Ashley Crawford, Ray Edgar, editors, Transit Lounge: An Interface Book from 21.C, North Ryde, →ISBN, page 174:

Synonyms

bozophobia · coulrophobia