The focus is material that is decaying, rather than germs or dirt in general.

Possible triggers

Finding spoiled food, encountering rotting plant material or noticing the smell of decay.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. The ending -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear); a reliable derivation of the first part has not been established.

A fear of dolls can affect toy shops, homes, museums and displays containing dolls, mannequins or lifelike figures. It may lead to avoiding certain rooms or places, turning objects away, checking where dolls are positioned or asking other people to remove them.

Possible triggers

Entering a room with displayed dolls, opening a box containing a doll or seeing one in a shop window.

Name origin

From Greek pais (child) and -phobia.

Dust is the focus of the fear; some dictionary definitions also include dirt.

Possible triggers

Noticing dust on furniture, opening a dusty box or anticipating cleaning a neglected space.

Name origin

From Greek amathos (dust) and phobos (fear).

A fear of electricity can affect everyday situations involving electric shock, plug socket, power line and wiring. It may lead to avoiding touching, using or being near the object, asking others to deal with it, changing routines, or checking surroundings for the trigger.

Possible triggers

Plugging in an appliance, approaching electrical equipment or seeing an electrical warning sign.

Name origin

From Greek elektron (amber) and -phobia.

The concern can involve feathers themselves, pictures or feathered objects, or the thought of being touched by a feather.

Possible triggers

Finding a loose feather, touching a feather-filled item or encountering feathers in a display.

Name origin

From Greek pteron (feather or wing) and -phobia (fear).

The focus is guns and other firearms. Sensible precautions around weapons are not, by themselves, a phobia.

Possible triggers

Seeing a firearm on display, encountering one in a film or entering a setting where firearms may be present.

Name origin

From Greek hoplon (weapon or implement) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of flour can affect everyday situations involving baking flour, handling flour, white powder and flour dust. It may lead to restricting foods, checking ingredients or preparation, avoiding meals, shops or restaurants, or relying heavily on familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Opening a bag of flour, seeing flour on a worktop or taking part in baking.

Name origin

From Greek aleuron (flour) and -phobia.

A fear of flutes can affect everyday situations involving high pitched instrument, flute sound, wind instrument and flute. It may lead to scanning for the sensation or visual cue, avoiding particular environments or objects, leaving situations early, or arranging surroundings to prevent encountering it.

Possible triggers

Hearing flute music, seeing someone prepare to play a flute or encountering a flute performance.

Name origin

From Greek aulos (flute) and -phobia.

Glass as a material is the focus of the fear.

Possible triggers

Handling a drinking glass, approaching a glass display or seeing broken glass.

Name origin

From Greek hyalos (glass) and phobos (fear).

Also known as

Crystallophobia, Nelophobia

Gold itself is the focus, rather than metals in general.

Possible triggers

Handling gold jewellery, seeing a gold display or being offered a gold item.

Name origin

Combines Latin aurum (gold) with Greek-derived -phobia (fear).