Eco-Anxiety
/ˌiːkoʊ æŋˈzaɪ.ə.ti/noun
A persistent worry or distress about environmental damage and climate change.
Did you know?The first half comes from Greek oikos, meaning “house” or “home,” the same ancient root behind ecology, economy, and ecosystem—so the word literally frames the planet as your haunted home.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
oîkos
“house, household, home”
Late 19th Century
English
ecology
“the study of the relations of organisms to their environment”
Late 19th Century
English
anxiety
“a state of unease or apprehension”
Late 20th Century
English
eco-anxiety
“anxiety caused by environmental concern”
Modern English
English
eco-anxiety
“distress or chronic worry about ecological crisis and climate change”
Explore more surprising origins