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

A decade ago, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman – or MBS as he is widely known – decreed a revisioning of his country that leapt from the realm of science fiction.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

Cryopreservation, the process of preserving biological tissue by cooling it to extremely low temperatures, often sounds like something out of science fiction.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

Some of these fears stem from science fiction portrayals of AI, while others are rooted in potential job displacement or ethical considerations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Witnessing a solar eclipse from space was a spectacle worthy of science fiction, as pilot Glover put it.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

It was a dizzying experience, as though time had sped forward in a science fiction novel, to suddenly hug one’s fully grown child.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• SF
• sci-fi