Meanings
- humorousinformaluncountableA fear or dislike of garden gnomes.
Pop superstar Elton John says "gnomophobia" is partly to blame for the delay in getting his animated film, "Gnomeo and Juliet," brought to life.
2009 May 26, “Elton John, Ont. premier announce animation funding”, in CTV News2 more examples
“It’s good to confront the received wisdom that all gnomes are nasty,” Mr. Llewelyn-Bowen said. Referring to his wife, he added: “Also, Jackie has had to overcome her poshness and confront her gnomophobia.”
2013 May 20, Sarah Lyall, “Common Gnomes Pop Up at Rarefied Flower Show, to Horror of Many”, in The New York TimesAs for me, I’m a fence sitter. The little red-shirted men sitting with fishing poles beside ponds are — ouch — insufferably cute. Yet I also think there is way too much snobbery in gardening. So if our gnomophobia is waning, that’s surely a good thing.
2014 March 29, Sonia Day, “Gnomes back in gardeners’ good graces: The Real Dirt”, in Toronto Star
Origin
Cite this entry
gnomophobia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gnomophobia
“gnomophobia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gnomophobia. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gnomophobia,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gnomophobia.
Source: gnomophobia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.