Meanings
- informalrareuncountableThe fear of clowns.
A facile, pop-psych explanation would unearth the roots of clownophobia in childhood traumas.
1997, Ashley Crawford, Ray Edgar, editors, Transit Lounge: An Interface Book from 21.C, North Ryde, →ISBN, page 1742 more examples
While most of us see Ronald McDonald as a nice corporate symbol, the 8% of the population that suffers from clownophobia (more properly called coulrophobia) view him as evil incarnate.
2003, Richard Crouse, The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen, ECW Press, →ISBN, page 130Seriously, my girlfriend said the exact same thing when I told her she was far from alone in her clownophobia.
2003 December 20, Brian Christgau, “Re: OT -- Clowns... creepy?”, in misc.writing.screenplays (Usenet)Synonyms: bozophobia, coulrophobia
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe fear of clowns.
Origin
Cite this entry
clownophobia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clownophobia
“clownophobia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clownophobia. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clownophobia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clownophobia.
Source: clownophobia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.