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.

---

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of science fiction

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Like much science fiction in the arts, the film paints a dystopian view of our future years.

From BBC

This isn’t a scene from a science fiction film—it’s a reality in a growing number of communities across the U.S., where law enforcement is expanding the use of drones.

From The Wall Street Journal

It sounds like science fiction - a factory, located hundreds of kilometres above the Earth, churning out high-quality materials.

From BBC

"This is the closest we have been to realizing the science fiction vision of expanding across the solar system."

From Science Daily

The promise of replicating a future previously only really witnessed in science fiction has also helped fuel investment in more than a dozen startups working on humanoid robots.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• SF
• sci-fi