science fiction

noun

: fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component
science-fictional adjective

Examples of science fiction in a Sentence

Time travel exists only in the realm of science fiction.
Recent Examples on the Web Disney is targeting a 2025 release for the follow-up to the 1982 seminal science fiction film Tron and the 2010 sequel, Tron: Legacy. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024 MotorTrend created a speculative Apple Car in 2016, treating it like an object of science fiction, then another in 2022. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 Though obviously infused with elements of science fiction and steampunk, Poor Things is set in Victorian London (with excursions to Lisbon, Alexandria, and Paris), and Bella's free spirit defies the strict social expectations of that period. Christian Holub, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024 The idea of defensive weapons in space, both kinetic and directed energy, is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The Editors, National Review, 16 Feb. 2024 The book is now regarded as the first true work of science fiction. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Most of the companies getting traction in the space have robots that don’t look like the humanoids of science fiction. Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Even in 1987, when the movie debuted, there were few Black film stars in science fiction and Weathers' character, Dillon, was an equal to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch. Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024 In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Butler, 32, spoke to his approach to playing the science fiction epic's villain Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen with his director Denis Villeneuve. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'science fiction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of science fiction was in 1898

Dictionary Entries Near science fiction

Cite this Entry

“Science fiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science%20fiction. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

science fiction

noun
: fiction that deals with the influence of real or imagined science on society or individuals
science-fictional
ˈsī-ən(t)s-ˈfik-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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