What does arachnophobia mean?
Arachnophobia is an intense, persistent, and irrational fear of spiders and other arachnids, such as scorpions and ticks. It is one of the most commonly cited specific phobias and is recognized clinically when the fear is excessive, difficult to control, and leads to avoidance behaviors that interfere with everyday life — for example, refusing to enter a room, garden, or basement where a spider might be present. The word derives from Greek roots: 'arachne,' meaning spider (and echoing the myth of Arachne, the weaver transformed into a spider), combined with 'phobos,' meaning fear. While many people experience mild unease around spiders, arachnophobia describes a reaction far beyond ordinary discomfort, often accompanied by panic, sweating, or a rapid heartbeat. Treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and gradual exposure therapy have proven effective, making this a well-studied and widely understood condition in modern psychology.
nounAn extreme or irrational fear of spiders and other arachnids, recognized as a specific phobia.
- An intense, persistent, and irrational fear of spiders and other arachnids that causes significant distress or avoidance behavior; classified as a specific phobia.
"Her arachnophobia was so severe that she couldn't enter a room until someone had checked it for spiders."
"Even a harmless house spider sent him into a panic — his arachnophobia had worsened over the years."
"Exposure therapy is one of the most effective treatments for arachnophobia, gradually desensitizing patients to spiders in a controlled setting."
Rarely pluralized since the term usually refers to the condition in general rather than individual instances; the singular form is standard in nearly all contexts.
"Psychologists have studied various manifestations of arachnophobias across different cultures."
The word comes from Arachne, the Greek weaver who was turned into a spider by Athena — making every case of arachnophobia, in a sense, a fear of a mythological character.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arachnophobia
Arachnophobia combines two Greek roots: 'arachnē' (ἀράχνη), meaning spider, and 'phobos' (φόβος), meaning fear or panic. The root 'arachnē' itself traces back to the Greek myth of Arachne, a skilled weaver who was transformed into a spider after challenging the goddess Athena. The compound form entered English usage alongside other '-phobia' terms that became widespread in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as psychology began classifying specific fears. Related words sharing these roots include 'arachnid' (the biological class of eight-legged creatures) and 'arachnology' (the scientific study of spiders).
How arachnophobia is actually used
Arachnophobia is used both as a clinical term (a diagnosed specific phobia) and informally to describe any strong dislike or fear of spiders. In clinical contexts it implies the fear is excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily life; casual use may describe milder aversion.
Easily confused with arachnophobia
Arachnophilia refers to an attraction to or love of spiders, the opposite of the fear implied by arachnophobia.