pho·bi·a (f??b?-?)n.1. A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous.2. A strong fear, dislike, or aversion.[From -phobia.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.phobia (?f??b??) n (Psychiatry) psychiatry an abnormal intense and irrational fear of a given situation, organism, or object. Also called: phobism [C19: from Greek phobos fear]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014pho?bi?a (?fo? bi ?) n., pl. -bi?as. a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it. [1780?90; extracted from nouns ending in -phobia] -phobia a combining form meaning ?dread of,? ?phobic aversion toward,? ?unreasonable antipathy toward? a given object: agoraphobia; xenophobia. [