Russianophobic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by or exhibiting fear, dislike, or prejudice against Russian people or culture; expressing hostility toward anything associated with Russia; demonstrating an aversion to Russian identity or influence
2. Showing an attitude of fear or hatred specifically targeting Russians or Russian heritage; reacting negatively to Russian customs, language, or politics; holding biased opinions against Russia or its citizens
3. Marked by suspicion or antagonism toward Russian individuals or their cultural traits; opposing Russian societal elements through discrimination or avoidance; reflecting xenophobic sentiments directed at Russia or Russians

Etymology: Russianophobic is built from "Russia" (via the combining form "Russo-", from Medieval Latin "Russus") and "phobic", from Greek "phobos", "fear", with the adjectival suffix "-ic". The "-o-" in the middle is the usual linking vowel in words of this type, the same one found in "Anglophobic" or "Francophobic". The "-phobia" element itself comes from Greek and entered English in the 19th century as a way of naming irrational fears, so the pattern is essentially a modern coinage. The word belongs to the same family as "Russophobia", the noun for the fear or hatred of Russia and Russians, which is attested in English from the mid-19th century. Its earliest use is tied to British worries about Russian expansion in Central Asia and the Ottoman lands, though the exact first citation should be checked before being relied on. The adjective "Russianophobic" is a later derivative, using the fuller form "Russian" rather than the combining form "Russo-" in the stem.

Antonyms: russophilic