What is "coulrophobia"?

Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns. The term usually refers to a persistent or intense fear response involving clowns, particularly their makeup, exaggerated expressions, costumes, or unpredictable behavior.

The word combines the Greek kolobathristes, associated with a performer on stilts, and phobos, meaning fear. Although the name is widely used, coulrophobia is not a separate diagnosis in major diagnostic manuals. A clinician would generally assess whether the fear fits the broader criteria for a specific phobia or another anxiety-related condition.

Clowns can seem unsettling because their faces are partly hidden by makeup, their expressions may be difficult to read, and their behavior deliberately breaks ordinary social expectations. Popular horror characters, films, and news stories have also strengthened the modern image of the frightening or “evil” clown.

Disliking clowns is not automatically a phobia. A clinical phobia involves fear or anxiety that is excessive, persistent, and disruptive enough to interfere with daily life or cause significant distress.