Phrase guide

cabin fever

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A condition of restlessness and irritability caused by being in a confined space.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

Examples

  • Some residents of Alaska suffer from cabin fever when they remain indoors throughout the long, snowy winters.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Typhus.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

In the current sense coined or popularized in a novel of the same name in 1918. See cite below.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: ponorková nemoc — psychological condition
  • Czech: ponorka — psychological condition
  • Danish: lejrkuller — psychological condition
  • Finnish: mökkihöperyys — psychological condition
  • French: claustrophobie — psychological condition
  • German: Lagerkoller — psychological condition
  • Icelandic: inniveiki — psychological condition
  • Japanese: 閉塞感 (heisoku-kan) — psychological condition
  • Norwegian Bokmål: brakkesyke — psychological condition
  • Norwegian Bokmål: brakkesjuke — psychological condition
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: brakkesjuke — psychological condition
  • Russian: кабинная лихорадка (kabinnaja lixoradka) — psychological condition
  • Spanish: claustrofobia — psychological condition
  • Tagalog: buryong — psychological condition
  • Welsh: clefyd caban — psychological condition