coulrophobia
noun

- extreme or irrational fear of clowns

- fear of clowns (= entertainers who wear funny clothes, have painted faces, and make people laugh by performing tricks and behaving in a silly way)

Oxford Languages / Cambridge Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

”Coulrophobia” was likely coined in the late 1980s or 1990s for inclusion in lists of phobias circulating on the internet. The first known use appears around 1997 according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

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CULTURAL CHAMELEONS

Keeping Audiences Entertained and Uneasy

Clowns have a rich and fascinating history that spans thousands of years across various cultures. The earliest known clown-like figures date back to ancient Egypt, where African Pygmies known as Dangas entertained pharaohs and royalty in the 5th dynasty, around 2400 BCE. In ancient Greece and Rome, clowns were an integral part of theater,... as a wise court jester using humour to offer counsel.

The modern concept of the circus clown emerged in the 18th century, with the rise of the Harlequinade in English pantomime and the work of pioneering clowns like Joseph Grimaldi. Grimaldi, known as the "Father of Modern Clowning", popularized the iconic whiteface makeup and costume that became the standard for circus clowns. However, the sinister side of clowns began to emerge, with their exaggerated features and zany antics often used to unsettle and frighten audiences.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Auguste clown, with its even more exaggerated features and unpredictable behaviour, began to overshadow the whiteface as the main clown character. Famous Auguste clowns like the Fratellini brothers in France and Coco the Clown in Britain helped to consolidate the Auguste's place in the circus.

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CHEER UP!

The story goes that one day Sigmund Freud was approached by a man suffering from a deep depression:

M: “Dr Freud, you must help me… I’m so depressed, what can I do?”

SF: “Tell you what… the circus is in town. Why not go and see Coco the Clown? He’ll cheer you up!”

... long pause ...

M: “But, I am Coco the Clown!”

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SYNONYMS

- for “clown”

buffoon, clown, comedian, comic, court jester, entertainer, goofball, harlequin, jack-pudding, jester, jokester, laughingstock, merry-andrew, merrymaker, prankster, sillybilly

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