1. a person who is excessively afraid of germs and contamination
Usage: informal; often used in everyday speech to describe someone with obsessive hygiene habits

Examples

• My uncle is such a germaphobe that he washes his hands twenty times a day.
• She's a germaphobe and refuses to touch anything in public restrooms.
• The germaphobe wore gloves even while cooking at home.
• His germaphobe tendencies made it difficult for him to enjoy outdoor activities.
• During the pandemic, even non-germaphobes became more cautious about hygiene.
• The germaphobe carried hand sanitizer in every pocket and bag.