A–Z list of phobias, fears and their meanings

This descriptive name concerns fear or aversion around kissing or being kissed. Not wanting to kiss someone is a valid boundary and does not itself indicate a phobia.

Possible triggers

Anticipating a kiss during a date, a greeting that involves kissing, or someone leaning in towards the face.

Name origin

Greek philema refers to a kiss. Its philemat form is joined to phobia, from Greek phobos, fear.

A fear of knees can affect everyday situations involving bending knees, exposed knees, kneeling and knees. It may lead to self-monitoring, avoiding mirrors, photographs, grooming or close contact, seeking reassurance, or changing social plans because of appearance-related fear.

Possible triggers

Seeing exposed knees, touching your knee or encountering a close-up image of a knee.

Name origin

From Latin genu (knee) and -phobia.

A fear of knowledge can affect everyday situations involving finding out, learning, studying and information. It may lead to monitoring thoughts and mental sensations, seeking reassurance, avoiding information or situations that trigger the fear, or trying hard to suppress particular thoughts.

Possible triggers

Being offered new information, starting a course or anticipating learning something you would rather not know.

Name origin

From Greek episteme (knowledge) and -phobia.

A fear of lakes can affect everyday situations involving deep lake, still water, dark lake and lake edge.

Possible triggers

Approaching a lakeside path, visiting a lakeside campsite or being invited onto a lake in a boat.

Name origin

From Greek limnē (lake) and -phobia.

A fear of large objects can affect city centres, ports, museums and places containing huge buildings, statues, ships or machinery. It may lead to avoiding certain routes or destinations, keeping extra distance or becoming overwhelmed by the scale of an object.

Possible triggers

Standing beside a large statue, approaching a huge ship or seeing an oversized structure nearby.

Name origin

From Greek megas (large) and -phobia.

The concern centres on lawsuits, rather than justice in general.

Possible triggers

Receiving a legal letter, hearing that someone might sue or anticipating a civil court case.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. The ending -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear), but the first part and the history of this spelling are uncertain.

Learning itself is the focus, rather than only attending school or taking an examination.

Possible triggers

Beginning a lesson, being asked to learn a new skill or anticipating unfamiliar teaching material.

Name origin

From Greek sophos (wise or learned) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of leaves can affect everyday situations involving fallen leaves, leaf piles, autumn leaves and dry leaves. It may lead to avoidance, checking, reassurance-seeking or changing everyday routines so that contact with the trigger feels less likely.

Possible triggers

Walking through fallen leaves, handling leafy branches or finding a leaf on clothing.

Name origin

From Greek phyllon (leaf) and -phobia.

The concern is becoming infested with lice, rather than insects in general.

Possible triggers

Hearing about a lice outbreak, checking hair for lice or reading information about infestation.

Name origin

From Latin pediculus (louse) and Greek phobos (fear).

Also known as

Phthiriophobia

A fear of lifts can affect everyday situations involving stuck in a lift, crowded lift, lift doors and lift. It may lead to avoiding certain journeys, routes or vehicles, planning extensively, relying on other people for transport, or cancelling trips altogether.

Possible triggers

Waiting for lift doors to open, entering a lift or anticipating the doors closing.

Name origin

From English elevate with -phobia.