Word

islamophobia

noun C1

UK /ɪˌslɑːməˈfəʊbiə/

US /ɪˌslɑːməˈfoʊbiə/

Meanings

noun

Prejudice, fear, or hostility toward Islam or Muslims, especially when it leads to discrimination or harassment.

islamophobia: Prejudice, fear, or hostility toward Islam or Muslims, especially when it leads to discrimination or harassmen…

noun

Negative stereotypes or biased portrayals about Islam or Muslims in public discourse, media, or politics.

Definition

Islamophobia is prejudice, fear, or hostility toward Islam or Muslims that can lead to discrimination.

Islamophobia refers to negative attitudes, fear, or hatred directed at Islam or people who are perceived to be Muslim. It can appear in speech, media, workplace decisions, or everyday interactions. In many cases, it results in unfair treatment, exclusion, or harassment based on religion or identity. The term is often used when discussing bias and discrimination in society.

Examples

I challenged Islamophobia in our discussion by asking for evidence instead of assumptions.
You can see how Islamophobia affects hiring decisions when qualified applicants are treated differently.
She wrote an editorial condemning Islamophobia after witnessing classmates being targeted.
They organized a community forum to address Islamophobia and rebuild trust between neighbors.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use islamophobia to mean criticism of Islam, but the word refers to prejudice or hostility toward Muslims or Islam, especially when it results in unfair treatment.