petronoia

Definition

Fear and/or paranoia due to the economics of oil and petroleum.

Etymology

Coined by Ben Brockwell, editor-in-chief of the Oil Price Information Service. Blend of petroleum + paranoia.

Example Sentences

• "Last week, as Americans were hit the hardest by record crude oil prices, the LA Times reported, in a piece entitled "Supply Fears, Fuel Speculators Pumping up Oil Prices." It goes on in the article. It says, "In an energy futures market wracked with concern that oil demand might outstrip supplies, traders call it petronoia, threats alone were enough to ignite prices.""