Mental Process
fear Audio
fear [ feer ]
Subclass of:
Emotions
Definitions related to fear (mental process):
  • (fear) A feeling of apprehension that one may be in danger.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (fear) Emotional response or feeling characterized by being afraid, apprehensive, or worried from an actual, anticipated or perceived danger or threat.
    Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS)
    AORN, 2011
  • (fear) The affective response to an actual current external danger which subsides with the elimination of the threatening condition.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • (fear) Unpleasant but normal emotional response to genuine external danger or threats; compare with ANXIETY and CLINICAL ANXIETY.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (fear) Unpleasurable emotional state consisting of psychophysiological changes in response to a realistic threat or danger. Compare with anxiety.
    Sadock's Comprehensive Glossary of Psychiatry and Psychology
    BJ Sadock Titles Press, 2012
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.