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Definition of germaphobe

germaphobe

/ˈdʒɜːrməfoʊb/
ger · ma · phobe
Plural:germaphobes
•
Adjective:germaphobic
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germaphobe Lexical Profile

germaphobe Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person with an extreme fear of germs and an obsession with cleanliness.

Example

"As a self-proclaimed germaphobe, he always carries hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes when traveling on public transit."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for germaphobe

Word Nuance & Usage

Often spelled "germophobe," this term is typically used colloquially to describe someone who is fastidious about hygiene, whereas "mysophobe" is the more formal clinical term.

• Rhymes for germaphobe

• Nearby Words

germanic
germans
germany
germaphobe
germaphobic
germfree
germicidal

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 20th century from the noun "germ" (from Latin "germen," meaning sprout or bud) and the combining form "-phobe" (from Ancient Greek "phobos," meaning fear).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Germaphobe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/germaphobe
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