unidentified flying object
unidentified flying object — noun
1. an object seen moving through the air that nobody can explain, and that some peo
an object seen moving through the air that nobody can explain, and that some people imagine could be a spaceship from beyond our planet
Grandpa claims he saw an unidentified flying object above the barn last night.
simple past with personal anecdote
A pilot reported an unidentified flying object on the radar screen over Mexico.
professional context: pilot + radar
Lien's science project shows why most unidentified flying objects are actually weather balloons or planes.
Government reports about unidentified flying objects are often kept from the public for years.
When strange lights appeared, several neighbours called the police about an unidentified flying object.
- UFO
the common abbreviation; used in everyday speech and news headlines
- flying saucer
older, more informal term that suggests a disc-shaped alien craft; less common today
- UAP
modern official term used by military and government agencies; broader scope
用法筆記
often abbreviated as UFO (pronounced as separate letters or as a word). The full form "unidentified flying object" is more common in formal or written contexts, while "UFO" is the usual casual spoken form used in everyday conversation and media. In official or scientific contexts, the newer term UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon) is increasingly preferred.