UFO

noun

ˌyü-(ˌ)ef-ˈō How to pronounce UFO (audio)
ˈyü-(ˌ)fō
plural UFO's or UFOs ˌyü-(ˌ)ef-ˈōz How to pronounce UFO (audio)
ˈyü-(ˌ)fōz
: a mysterious flying object in the sky that is sometimes assumed to be a spaceship from another planet : unidentified flying object
"All right." The President sighed. "Is there anybody around this table who thinks UFOs and this signal from Vega have anything to do with each other?"Carl Sagan
In 1966, the first UFO "abduction" was described in journalist John G. Fuller's book The Interrupted Journey.Keay Davidson

called also UAP, unidentified aerial phenomenon, unidentified anomalous phenomenon

Examples of UFO in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cena hit a Skull Crushing Finale, Styles pulled out a Torture Rack into a UFO Slam and later a Scorpion Death Drop. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025 Paradise City Sales has closed deals for the film in France (UFO Distribution), Germany/Austria (Neue Visionen), Spain (ADSO Films), Switzerland (Trigon Film), Turkey (Bir Film), MENA (Sunnyland), Taiwan (Sky Digi Entertainment) and Airlines (Skeye). Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025 There’s so much happening in the scientific search for alien life, but also more openness toward the UFO community and a posture of transparency from the government. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025 To enhance the verisimilitude of his wraparound segment, Cheel augments the fictional story of alien-contact footage discovered at a yard sale with nonfiction asides about UFO culture. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for UFO

Word History

Etymology

unidentified flying object

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of UFO was in 1953

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“UFO.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/UFO. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

plural UFO's or UFOs -ˈōz How to pronounce UFO (audio)
: an unidentified flying object
especially : flying saucer

More from Merriam-Webster on UFO

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