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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.

Muldoon starred in Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi action film Starship Troopers in 1997, playing Zander Barcalow, the romantic rival of the lead character, portrayed by Casper Van Dien.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Its main task is economic development, plowing funds into real-estate projects pushed by the country's leadership, including sci-fi city Neom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Dan Fogelman’s latest TV series starring Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden is a mystery wrapped in a conspiracy wrapped in a sci-fi premise.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

In a totalitarian sci-fi world, a hammer thrown by a young athlete smashes a "Big Brother" figure declaiming to brainwashed citizens from a vast screen.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

He liked digging through the bins of used bookstores to buy sci-fi and classic literature; he liked books, holding them and turning their pages.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

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.