Word

xenophobic

adjective C1

UK /ˌzɛn.əˈfəʊ.bɪk/

US /ˌzi.nəˈfoʊ.bɪk/

Meanings

adjective

Showing fear, distrust, or hatred toward foreigners or people perceived as outsiders.

adjective

Based on or expressing prejudice that excludes people because of their foreign origin or culture.

Definition

Showing fear or strong dislike of people from other countries or cultures.

Xenophobic describes attitudes or behavior that are suspicious of, hostile to, or prejudiced against foreigners or people seen as “outsiders.” It is often used for comments, policies, or movements that exclude or blame people because of their nationality, language, or cultural background. The word focuses on bias toward those perceived as foreign, not simply on ordinary caution with strangers.

Examples

I challenged the xenophobic remarks in the meeting because they reduced complex issues to blame.
You might not notice how xenophobic jokes land until you hear them from the target’s perspective.
He rejected the proposal as xenophobic, arguing it would stigmatize entire communities.
She refused to share the xenophobic post, even though it was trending among her friends.
They described the new rules as xenophobic and asked for a public review of their impact.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse xenophobic with racist, but xenophobic mainly targets foreigners or outsiders rather than race specifically.