Automatophobia
/ˌɔːtəˌmætəˈfoʊbiə/noun
An irrational fear of automatons or robotic beings.
Did you know?The term 'automatophobia' derives from fears of lifelike machines, echoing ancient anxieties about the boundary between the living and the lifeless.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
αὐτόματος (automatos)
“Acting of itself, spontaneous.”
Middle English
English
automaunt
“A mechanical figure made to imitate human actions.”
18th Century
French
automate
“A self-operating machine or device.”
20th Century
English
automaton
“A mechanical figure that performs a function or behavior.”
Late 20th Century
English
automatophobia
“The specific fear of automatons or robots.”
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