parallel universe

[ par-uh-lel yoo-nuh-vurs ]

noun

1. Physics. any of a hypothetical collection of undetectable universes that are like our known universe but have branched off from our universe due to a quantum-level event. multiverse 1.
2. (in cosmology) a hypothetical universe that coexists with our known universe but may operate under fundamentally different laws of physics. multiverse 1.
3. Also called alternate universe,. (in science fiction, fantasy, etc.) a separate universe or world that coexists with our known universe but is very different from it. Compare dimension ( def 8 ).
4. a realm of existence and experience that is fundamentally different from the one that most humans share; a separate reality:

   I don’t understand him—I think he lives in a parallel universe.

Word History and Origins

Origin of parallel universe¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Miles not only gains Spidey powers but is caught up in the combustion of a dangerous machine that makes parallel universes collide.

From Time

The TVA is basically a group of space-time cops responsible for pruning any timelines that branch off the main timeline, creating parallel universes.

From Time

Since I’m the type of person who, as a general rule, believes that social media makes everything worse, a parallel universe in which the World 1 League supplants the Olympics is a universe in which one grim reality has merely displaced another.

From Outside Online

The Kang that Loki and Sylvie meet is just one of an infinite number of Kangs that exist in various parallel universes.

From Time

There, he discovered the existence of multiple parallel universes and started interacting with his variants on other timelines.

From Time

Lost art offers a parallel universe, with riches to match those in all of our museums today, and then some.

From The Daily Beast

Welcome to the Obama Haters Book Club—a parallel universe of fear mongering for fun and profit.

From The Daily Beast

And for the duration I lived in a parallel universe to the one I knew on the outside.

From The Daily Beast

They operate in a parallel universe, allowed to switch nationalities but only among the non-English speaking nations.

From The Daily Beast

Beck has essentially created a parallel universe for his viewers.

From The Daily Beast

"It's the parallel universe business, of course," he said to Pete, with Tommy beaming over his shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg