What does aerophobia mean?
Aerophobia is a noun denoting an intense, persistent, and irrational fear of flying in aircraft. It combines the Greek roots 'aero-' (air) and '-phobia' (fear), and belongs to the family of specific phobias recognized in clinical psychology. People with aerophobia may experience anxiety, panic attacks, or complete avoidance of air travel, often despite intellectually knowing that flying is statistically very safe. Treatment typically involves cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure therapy, or specialised fear-of-flying courses, some of which are offered by airlines. Although the aviation sense dominates modern usage, the term has also been used in medical contexts to describe an abnormal aversion to air, drafts, or swallowing air — a meaning now largely historical. Related but distinct terms include acrophobia (fear of heights) and agoraphobia (fear of open or crowded places), with which aerophobia is sometimes confused.
nounAn extreme or irrational fear of flying in aircraft. In medical usage, it can also denote an abnormal fear of air, drafts, or swallowing air.
- An extreme or irrational fear of flying in aircraft.
- In medical or psychiatric usage: an abnormal fear of air, drafts, or fresh air; also, rarely, a neurotic fear of swallowing air.
"Her aerophobia was so severe that she once took a two-day train journey rather than board a plane."
"After years of avoiding holidays abroad, he finally sought treatment for his aerophobia."
"The airline's confidence course pairs relaxation techniques with a supervised flight to help passengers confront their aerophobia."
Rarely pluralised; the plural appears only when referring to multiple individual instances or cases of the condition.
"The clinic treats a range of aerophobias, from mild unease to full-blown panic."
Despite being one of the safest ways to travel, flying terrifies enough people that 'aerophobia' has spawned an entire industry of fear-of-flying courses run by airlines themselves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aerophobia
Aerophobia derives from the Ancient Greek elements 'aēr' meaning air and 'phobos' meaning fear, joined via the combining form '-phobia' that English borrowed through Latin and New Latin scientific vocabulary. Like most terms of this shape, it was coined in the nineteenth century as part of the systematic naming of specific phobias in medical literature. It shares its roots with a wide range of English words built on the same Greek elements, including aerobic, aerosol, aeronautics, and countless other '-phobia' formations such as claustrophobia and xenophobia.
How aerophobia is actually used
The word is formal or clinical in register; everyday speakers more often say 'fear of flying.' The aviation sense is by far the dominant one in modern usage. The rarer medical sense relating to air or drafts appears mainly in older or specialist psychiatric texts.
Easily confused with aerophobia
Acrophobia is the fear of heights, whereas aerophobia is the fear of flying (or, medically, of air or drafts).
Agoraphobia is the fear of open or crowded spaces and situations where escape may be difficult, not the fear of flying itself.