unidentified flying object

plural unidentified flying objects

1. Anything not readily explainable appearing to move through or be suspended in the air.

   The lights seen over the city last night, originally termed unidentified flying objects, turned out to be spotlights from a car dealership reflecting on low clouds.

   1 more example

   The U.S. Air Force says, people have been reporting unidentified flying objects since around 1700—and probably a long time before that.

   1950 May 10, The Cairns Post, Qld, page 9, column 5

   Synonyms: UFO, UAP, unidentified aerial phenomenon, unexplained aerial phenomenon

   1. especially and originallySuch things as seem to be discrete objects and comparable to aircraft.

      She said that the unidentified flying object then turned around, zoomed to a higher altitude, and loitered briefly before speeding off.

      2 more examples

      A spokesman said this about a revival of reports of unidentified flying objects, popularly known as flying saucers.

      1952 April 4, The Daily News, Perth, WA, page 8, column 2

      The U.S. and Canada are investigating three unidentified flying objects shot down over North America in the past three days. Militaries have adjusted radars to try to spot more incursions.

      2023 February 12, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper, Edward Wong, “What’s Going On Up There? Theories but No Answers in Shootdowns of Mystery Craft.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

      Synonyms: UFO, UAP, unidentified aerial phenomenon, unexplained aerial phenomenon

2. colloquialAn alien spacecraft.

   He said that the strange beings then took him aboard their unidentified flying object and examined his body.