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Synonyms

sci-fi

American  
[sahy-fahy] / ˈsaɪˌfaɪ /
Also scifi,

adjective

  1. of or relating to science fiction.

    a writer of sci-fi books.

noun

  1. science fiction.

sci-fi British  
/ ˈsaɪˌfaɪ /

noun

  1. short for science fiction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sci-fi

First recorded in 1950–55; by shortening

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Think back to the sci-fi shows of the last century.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

Now he’s back with a sci-fi film called “Hope” which also, apparently, has a tiger on the loose.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Some scenes for the Rocky Horror Picture Show were recorded at the studios in 1974 and Ridley Scott built and shot the miniatures for his Academy Award winning sci-fi thriller Alien there in 1978.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Patterson’s outfit was “very niche”: Captain EO, a character played by the singer in a sci-fi short film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

I have a bookcase filled with all kinds of stories: mysteries, fantasy adventures, sci-fi.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.