The true definitition of Xenophobia as stated by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “fear (1) and hatred (2) of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.”
Fear
Although Xenophobia is categorized as an actual phobia, the clinical version of Xenophobia is extremely rare and is usually caused by extreme trauma. It is the repression of these traumatic events and the resurfacing with a trigger event that can result in extreme fear of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.
Hatred
In the news, Xenophobia as a colloquial term refers mostly to the behavior of a group, or of an individual, based on the intense dislike of, or intolerance for, people of another race or culture, based on a perceived threat. An example of such a threat is a person or a group’s cultural perception that immigrants or foreigners are taking jobs away from native workers.
The level of fear or hatred displayed exceeds average racism or prejudice.
Resources
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/phobias/psychology-of-xenophobia-and-how-it-affects-everyone/