Scotophobia
/ˌskoʊtəˈfoʊbiə/noun
An intense or irrational fear of darkness.
Did you know?The first element comes from Ancient Greek skotos, “darkness,” a root also used in medical terms for blind spots and vision in very low light.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκότος (skotos)
“Darkness, gloom, or obscurity”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-φοβία (-phobia)
“Fear or aversion, from phobos, “fear””
19th Century
Scientific Greek
scotophobia
“A learned formation meaning fear of darkness”
19th–20th Century
Medical English
scotophobia
“Fear of darkness, used in psychological and medical writing”
Modern English
English
scotophobia
“An intense or irrational fear of darkness”