Xenophobia is the fear, dislike, or hatred of anything perceived as foreign or strange, especially people from other countries or different cultural backgrounds. The term comes from the Ancient Greek words xénos (stranger, foreigner) and phóbos (fear)

. It often manifests as suspicion, prejudice, discrimination, or hostility toward people who are seen as outsiders or not belonging to the in-group, based on nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion, or other distinguishing characteristics

. Xenophobia can include behaviors such as making fun of someone's nationality, excluding people from social or work environments because they are foreign, spreading hateful messages about certain cultures, or even physical violence against those perceived as outsiders

. It is closely related to but distinct from racism, as xenophobia typically focuses on nationality and cultural differences rather than solely race or ethnicity

. Xenophobia is not classified as a medical phobia but is considered a widespread social prejudice that can lead to discrimination, hate crimes, and social conflict. It can be driven by fears of losing national or cultural identity and may be linked to political and socioeconomic factors

. In summary, xenophobia is an irrational fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers, often resulting in exclusionary and hostile attitudes or actions toward people perceived as different or foreign