unidentified flying object
Unexplained aerial phenomenon
An unidentified flying object is something observed in the sky that the observer cannot explain—often abbreviated UFO.
The term was coined by the U.S.
Air Force in the 1950s as a neutral replacement for "flying saucer." While UFO technically covers any unexplained aerial phenomenon, popular usage associates it strongly with extraterrestrial spacecraft: She claims to have seen a UFO over the desert.
The abbreviation has largely displaced the full phrase in everyday speech.
One who saw events
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- skywatchingObserving the night sky
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
camera · recording · photograph · video · luminous · glowing · hovering · orb
Non-native being
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- martianNative of fourth planet
- greyNeutral achromatic tone
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
intergalactic · non-human · otherworldly · xenobiology · astrobiology · close encounter · abduction · contact
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- RoswellNew Mexico city, UFO-famous
- Area 51Classified Nevada test facility
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- Men in BlackFranchise about alien-monitoring agents
classified · redacted · whistleblower · government secrecy · black site · disclosure · suppression · debunking
Airborne transportation vehicle
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- aviationFlying or operating aircraft
spacecraft · aeronautics · propulsion · glide · aerodynamics · pilot · altitude · trajectory
Departure from the expected
- unexplainedNot yet clarified
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- occurrenceSomething that takes place
bizarre · strange · inexplicable · unknown · paranormal · wave · hotspot · flap
Request for information
- probeThorough examination or tool
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- dataFacts for analysis
examination · experts · ufologist · researcher · debunker · case file · credibility · corroboration
eyewitness
One who saw events
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- skywatchingObserving the night sky
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
binoculars · camera · recording · photograph · video · luminous · glowing · hovering · orb · disc-shaped
alien
Non-native being
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- martianNative of fourth planet
- greyNeutral achromatic tone
interstellar · intergalactic · non-human · otherworldly · xenobiology · astrobiology · close encounter · abduction · contact · visitation
cover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- RoswellNew Mexico city, UFO-famous
- Area 51Classified Nevada test facility
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
Men in Black · classified · redacted · whistleblower · government secrecy · black site · disclosure · suppression · debunking · misinformation
aircraft
Airborne transportation vehicle
aviation · spacecraft · aeronautics · propulsion · glide · aerodynamics · pilot · altitude · trajectory · maneuvering
anomaly
Departure from the expected
- unexplainedNot yet clarified
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
occurrence · bizarre · strange · inexplicable · unknown · paranormal · wave · hotspot · flap · transient
inquiry
Request for information
data · examination · experts · ufologist · researcher · debunker · case file · credibility · corroboration · spectral analysis
unidentified flying objectmilitary jet
Armed forces aircraft
helicopter · weather balloon · satellite · drone · airplane
unidentified flying objectcommercial flight
Scheduled passenger air travel
unidentified flying objectnatural phenomenon
Occurrence not human-caused
optical illusion · Venus · swamp gas · Chinese lantern · hoax
unidentified, flying, object, identify, identified, identifier, identification, identity, identifiable