science fiction

American  

[sahy-uhns fik-shuhn] / ˈsaɪ əns ˈfɪk ʃən /

Also scifi,

noun

1. a form of fiction that draws imaginatively on scientific knowledge and speculation in its plot, setting, theme, etc.

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science fiction British  

noun

1. 1. a literary genre that makes imaginative use of scientific knowledge or conjecture

   2. ( as modifier )

      a science fiction writer

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science fiction Cultural  

1. Works of fiction that use scientific discoveries or advanced technology — either actual or imaginary — as part of their plot. Jules Verne and H. G. Wells were early writers of science fiction. More recent ones are Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury.

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Etymology

Origin of science fiction

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

It’s more like the language of Robert A. Heinlein, who wrote science fiction.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

It may sound like something out of science fiction, but the discovery has very real implications for America’s ranchers and meat processors.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

In 2018, Lin appointed Xu to lead Three-Body Universe, a subsidiary to manage projects related to the science fiction franchise.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

The company’s S-1 is nearly 300 pages, chock-full of futuristic product ideas and lingo more reminiscent of science fiction than your typical Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Carl Sagan in Cosmos raised the possibility that if you traveled downward into an electron, you might find that it contained a universe of its own, recalling all those science fiction stories of the fifties.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• SF
• sci-fi