UFO

noun

ˌyü-(ˌ)ef-ˈō 

ˈyü-(ˌ)fō

plural UFO's or UFOs ˌyü-(ˌ)ef-ˈōz 

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

The image of the UFO was initially declassified in Canada and approved for public release before the acting assistant deputy minister for public affairs questioned whether the public should be allowed to view it, according to the news outlet. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 25 Sep. 2024

That is the concern — that other countries also have UFO programs. —Johnny Dodd, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2024

The beam's shape, projected onto a screen in front of us, was reminiscent of the profile of the UFO on that poster from Mulder's office in The X-Files. —Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024

In 1973: Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter documented an October 1969 UFO sighting in a report. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

unidentified flying object

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

UFO

noun

ˌyü-(ˌ)ef-ˈō 

plural UFO's or UFOs -ˈōz 

: an unidentified flying object

especially : flying saucer