Definition
Having an intense fear, hatred, or intolerance of people from other countries or cultures. The term combines the Greek 'xenos' (foreign) with 'phobos' (fear), describing an attitude that views foreigners or foreign things as threatening or inferior.
Example Usage
The candidate's xenophobic remarks about immigrants alienated many voters.
Origin
From Greek xenos (foreigner) + phobos (fear), popularized in English in the 1880s.
Fun Fact
Xenophobia exists on a spectrum from mild distrust to violent discrimination, and is distinct from legitimate disagreement on immigration policy.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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