Fermi paradox

proper noun

The seeming contradiction, serving as a challenge to believers in the existence of advanced lifeforms throughout the universe, that there is no scientific evidence that extraterrestrial civilizations have tried to visit or communicate with Earth.

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Meanings

Fermi paradox1

proper noun

alternative Fermi Paradox

  1. The seeming contradiction, serving as a challenge to believers in the existence of advanced lifeforms throughout the universe, that there is no scientific evidence that extraterrestrial civilizations have tried to visit or communicate with Earth.

    Fermi argued that the fact that aliens don't seem to be hanging out with us here on Earth (the tabloid stories aside) strongly contradicts the assumed existence of intelligent life elsewhere in our galaxy, a problem that came to be known as the Fermi Paradox.

    2006, Kevin W. Plaxco, Michael Gross, Astrobiology: A Brief Introduction, →ISBN, page 246

Fermi Paradox2

proper noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Fermi paradox.

Origin

Named after physicist Enrico Fermi (1901–1954).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Fermi paradox. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fermi%20paradox

MLA

“Fermi paradox.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fermi%20paradox. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Fermi paradox,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fermi%20paradox.

Source: Fermi paradox on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.