unidentified aerial phenomenon
noun
plural unidentified aerial phenomena
: a mysterious flying object in the sky that is sometimes assumed to be a spaceship from another planet : UAP
—used especially as an alternative to UFO or unidentified flying object
Unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), formerly referred to as UFOs, in theory, could include alien spacecraft, but the two aren't synonymous. The Defense Department's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) considers a UAP "anything in space, in the air, on land, in the sea or under the sea that can't be identified and might pose a threat to U.S. military installations or operations."—
Urja Sinha et al.
Urja Sinha et al.Examples of unidentified aerial phenomenon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Defense Department Has Set Up a UFO Office
The Pentagon has a new office dedicated to investigating and tracking UFOs—or unidentified aerial phenomena as they’re now known.
—Brian Barrett, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2021
First, the preferred term is UAP, as in unidentified aerial phenomenon, and second, maybe!
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024
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Brian Barrett, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2021
First, the preferred term is UAP, as in unidentified aerial phenomenon, and second, maybe!
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near unidentified aerial phenomenon
unidentified aerial phenomenon
Cite this Entry
“Unidentified aerial phenomenon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unidentified%20aerial%20phenomenon. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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