UFO

American  

[yoo-ef-oh, yoo-foh] / ˈjuˈɛfˈoʊ, ˈju foʊ /

abbreviation

• UFO's,
  plural
• UFOs
  plural

1. unidentified flying object: any unexplained moving object observed in the sky, especially one assumed by some observers to be of extraterrestrial origin.

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UFO British  

/ ˈjuːfəʊ /

abbreviation

1. unidentified flying object

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UFO ¹ Cultural  

1. The abbreviation for u nidentified f lying o bject. Sometimes referred to colloquially as “flying saucers.” Most UFO sightings have prosaic explanations; there is no hard evidence that extraterrestrial beings are visiting Earth.

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UFO ² Cultural  

1. An abbreviation for “U nidentified F lying O bject.” Often described as “flying saucers,” some UFOs are believed to come from other planets or galaxies and thus support the idea that human beings are not the only form of intelligent life in the universe. Few scientists agree.

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Usage

See UAP.

Etymology

Origin of UFO

First recorded 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

UFO

He professed a fondness for Tupac Shakur and electronic dance music, discussed UFO sightings around U.S. military installations and admitted his ideal fall Saturday involves spending hours watching college football.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

I have little doubt that this house-money effect is driving some of the market’s most popular recent gambles—leveraged ETFs, prediction-market bets, UFO and midnight bitcoin funds, and so on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Space is hot, featuring NASA, UFO and WARP.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

"It was a total long shot, but, like a UFO believer, I held on to the possibility of making contact," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

“When the atomic war comes we’ll all die and when UFO people arrive they’ll dig us up and study our culture.”

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos