Area 51

American  

[air-ee-uh fif-tee-wuhn] / ˈɛər i ə ˈfɪf tiˌwʌn /

noun

Informal.

1. a highly classified U.S. Air Force facility in southern Nevada. Area 51 has been the subject of speculation that the site is used to study and conceal evidence of UFO activity as well as visitations by extraterrestrials.

   Just when I’m sure that all this UFO talk about Area 51 is plain nonsense, someone comes out with a new book or documentary to make me start wondering again.

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Etymology

Origin of Area 51

First recorded in 1955–60; from its CIA map designation. Area 51 was also previously referred to as “Paradise Ranch,” later shortened to “the Ranch” in order to make the facility sound more attractive to potential workers

Example Sentences

“They’re real,” he said, “but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in, what is it, Area 51. There’s no underground facility. Unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.”

From Slate

"They're real, but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in Area 51," Obama said.

From BBC

"They're not being kept in Area 51. There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States," he added.

From BBC

As the pilots trained at Area 51, people all over the American West started seeing oddly shaped ships soaring far higher than any plane they knew of.

From Literature

On confidential government maps, it was labeled only as “Area 51.”

From Literature