unidentified aerial phenomenon

noun

plural unidentified aerial phenomena

: a mysterious flying object in the sky that is sometimes assumed to be a spaceship from another planet : uap

—used especially as an alternative to UFO or unidentified flying object

Unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), formerly referred to as UFOs, in theory, could include alien spacecraft, but the two aren't synonymous. The Defense Department's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) considers a UAP "anything in space, in the air, on land, in the sea or under the sea that can't be identified and might pose a threat to U.S. military installations or operations."

—Urja Sinha et al.

Examples of unidentified aerial phenomenon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fifty years ago, few people predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, the internet, a global pandemic, artificial intelligence, congressional hearings about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), or the unprecedented political events that have shaped the past decade. — Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

The new Pentagon website includes 162 declassified files on UFOs, or unidentified aerial phenomena. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 May 2026

Burlison in recent months has pushed government officials to reveal more information about unidentified aerial phenomenon, the new term for what used to be called UFOs. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026

UFOs, the term for unidentified flying objects, has in recent years given way to UAP — unidentified aerial phenomena or unidentified anomalous phenomena. — ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unidentified aerial phenomenon

• agamemnon
• automaton
• diencephalon
• panopticon
• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon