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.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| 3-di n. (No cites) | see three-D n. |
| 3V n. (No cites) | see tri-v n. |
| actifan n. (1942) | 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 |
| Afrofuturism n. (1993) | a movement in literature, music, art, etc., featuring futuristic or science fiction themes which incorporate elements of Black history and culture |
| 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. (1939) | = alternate future n. |
| alternative history n. (1976) | = 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.) |
| Anglic n. (1950) | a future language descended from Modern English |
| Anglofan n. (1941) | a science fiction fan who is a native or resident of the United Kingdom |
| anime n. (1985) | a Japanese animated film or television programme, drawn in a meticulously detailed style, usually featuring characters with distinctive large, staring eyes, and typically having a science-fiction or fantasy theme, sometimes including violent or sexually explicit material; this genre of entertainment |