teratophobia

English

Etymology

terato- (“pertaining to birth defects”) +‎ -phobia (“fear”), from Ancient Greek τέρας (téras, “monster”).

Noun

teratophobia (uncountable)

1. (rare) An irrational fear of monsters (terrifying creatures, or deformed children).
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:teratophobia.

Usage notes

• Terato- originated at a time when deformed children were termed "monsters"; this practice is now archaic, but the prefix lives on.

Further reading

• “teratophobia”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.