Standard Lemma guide

galeophobia

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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  • US: /ɡəˌliəˈfoʊbiə/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The irrational fear of sharks or dogfish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The irrational fear of cats or felines.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncommon, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek γαλεός (galeós), a type of shark with weasel-like markings, derived from γαλῆ (galê), γαλέη (galéē, “weasel, cat”) + -phobia.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Estonian: galeofoobia — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • French: galéphobie — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • German: Selachophobie — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Greek: γαλεοφοβία (galeofovía) — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Hungarian: galeofóbia — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Italian: selacofobia — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Russian: галеофо́бия (galeofóbija) — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Russian: селахофо́бия (selaxofóbija) — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Spanish: selacofobia — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Ukrainian: галеофо́бія (haleofóbija) — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish
  • Ukrainian: селахофо́бія (selaxofóbija) — irrational fear of sharks or dogfish