: of, relating to, or being science fiction
a sci-fi film
sci-fi noun

Examples of sci-fi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The high-profile out of comp line-up also includes AppleTV+’s Soviet-era sci-fi series Star City; AMC’s horror anthology The Terror; BBC drama California Avenue with Bill Nighy and Helena Bonham Carter; Canal+ period procedural Paris Police 1910; and Sky’s Prisoner starring Tahar Rahim. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026 Here’s the first full trailer for Backrooms, A24‘s sci-fi horror film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sentimental Value Oscar nominee Renate Reinsve. Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026 Imaginative set design and stunning visual effects make this a milestone in sci-fi cinema. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026 The sequel incorporates sci-fi elements, as Tree finds herself in a parallel universe as a result of her friend’s time-travel experiments. Arushi Jacob, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sci-fi

Word History

Etymology

shortened from science fiction

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sci-fi was in 1953

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sci-fi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sci-fi. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

sci-fi

noun
ˈsī-ˈfī
sci-fi adjective

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