'imageophobia' originates from English and Greek: English 'image' (ultimately from Latin 'imago') combined with Greek 'phobia' from 'phobos', where 'imago' meant 'likeness, copy' and 'phobos' meant 'fear'.

'imageophobia' is a modern English formation. 'Image' entered English via Old French and Middle English from Latin 'imago', and it was later combined with the Greek-derived suffix '-phobia' (from 'phobos') to coin the modern compound 'imageophobia'.

As a modern coinage, it initially meant and continues to mean 'fear of images' (with occasional extended use for strong aversion to images).