Agoraphobics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People who suffer from a pronounced fear of being in public places or open environments, resulting in significant distress and avoidance of such situations
2. Individuals who experience a debilitating anxiety that prevents them from feeling safe in crowded or unfamiliar areas, often seeking refuge at home
3. Those who have an intense fear of open or busy places which leads them to avoid these environments

Etymology: "Agoraphobics" is simply the plural of "agoraphobic", a noun for a person who fears crowds or open public places. The plural form adds nothing new to the story, so its history is that of the singular. The singular is built from two Greek parts. "Agora" meant the central public square of an ancient Greek city, the place where people gathered for markets, business and politics. "Phobia" comes from Greek "phobos", meaning fear or dread. Joined together, the parts describe a fear of the marketplace, which in practice became a fear of crowded, open spaces in general.