Welcome to the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction. This work-in-progress is a comprehensive quotation-based dictionary of the language of science fiction. The HD/SF is an offshoot of a project begun by the Oxford English Dictionary (though it is no longer formally affiliated with it). It is edited by Jesse Sheidlower. Please explore the menu links to learn more.
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| 3-di n. (No cites) | see three-D n. |
| 3V n. (No cites) | see tri-v n. |
| actifan n. (1941) | someone who is actively involved in fandom |
| adult fantasy n. (1932) | fantasy intended for adults rather than children |
| aerocar n. (1900) | a small, personal flying vehicle |
| Africanfuturism n. (2018) | Nnedi Okoraforβs term for: a subgenre of science fiction that heavily features elements of African history or culture; cf. Afrofuturism |
| Afrofuturism n. (1993) | a movement in literature, music, art, etc., featuring futuristic or science fiction themes which incorporate elements of Black history and culture |
| Afrofuturist adj. (1994) | of, relating to, or characterized by Afrofuturism n. |
| Afrofuturistic adj. (2000) | = Afrofuturist adj. |
| AI n. (1973) | a sentient computer; = artificial intelligence n. |
| aircab n. (1934) | a flying taxicab |
| aircar n. (1871) | = aerocar n. |
| airlock n. (1930) | a small airtight compartment with controlled pressure and two sets of doors, used to facilitate movement between the interior and exterior of a spacecraft; (also) either of the doors to such a compartment; cf. space lock n. |
| alien n. (1820) | an (intelligent) being from a location other than oneβs own, esp. such a being that is not from Earth |
| alien adj. (1919) | of or pertaining to an (intelligent) being or beings from another planet; that derives from another world |
| alien life form n. (1937) | = alien n. |
| Alpha Centaurian n. (1931) | a native or inhabitant of the Alpha Centauri star system; cf. Centaurian n. |
| Alpha Centaurian adj. (1934) | of or relating to the Alpha Centauri star system or its inhabitants; cf. Centaurian adj. |
| alternate future n. (1941) | in time-travel contexts: one of a number of possible futures; cf. slightly earlier alternative future n. |
| alternate history n. (1954) | a timeline that is different from that of our own world, usually extrapolated from the changing of a single event; the subgenre featuring such a timeline; (also) a story featuring this |
| alternate reality n. (1950) | = alternate world n. |
| alternate universe n. (1950) | = alternate world n. |
| alternate world n. (1944) | one of many possible universes, which may have different physical laws or a different history than our own |
| alternative future n. (1932) | = alternate future n. |
| alternative history n. (1970) | = alternate history n. |
| alternative reality n. (1941) | = alternate world n. |
| alternative universe n. (1944) | = alternate world n. |
| alternative world n. (1943) | = alternate world n. |
| android n. (1936) | a robot or other artificial being made to resemble a human, esp. one made of synthetic flesh or a fleshlike material (in contrast to metal, plastic, etc.) |