Gymnophobia

/ˌɡɪmnoʊˈfoʊbiə/ noun

Definition

An irrational fear of nudity or of being seen naked, whether one's own nakedness or that of others.

Etymology

From Greek 'gymnos' (naked) and 'phobos' (fear), literally meaning 'fear of nakedness,' combining the same Greek root as 'gymnasium' with the standard fear suffix.

Kelly Says

It's fascinating that the Greeks who created naked gymnasiums also had a word for fearing nudity—it shows that even in cultures we think were 'comfortable' with the body, anxiety about nakedness was real and recognized.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.