mathophobia

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noun

An aversion to mathematics.

Scrabble 23

Meanings

nounmathophobia (uncountable)

alternative mathphobia

  1. informaluncountableAn aversion to mathematics.

    As some of the negative actions are very probably a consequence of mathophobia, the spirit of this book may cure at least a few present or future deciders from that affliction.

    2011, Alexander Soifer, The Colorado Mathematical Olympiad and Further Explorations, page VII
    2 more examples

    "Americans," contends M.I.T.'s curriculum reformer, Dr. Jerrold Zacharius, "have mathophobia." They are "scared to death" of math, he says, because most teachers are afraid of it themselves and fail "to make it exciting."

    1967 March 17, Anonymous, "The Price of Mathophobia" in the Education section of Time

    So how did this translate into an exhibition that, if all went well, could 'cure' at least some people from severe attacks of mathophobia? The choice of Pythagoras' theorem had an additional motivation besides the one mentioned above.

    2014, Paul Smeyers, Marc Depaepe, Educational Research: Material Culture and Its Representation, page 174

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

mathophobia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mathophobia

MLA

“mathophobia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mathophobia. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mathophobia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mathophobia.

Source: mathophobia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.