unidentified flying object

Noun

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.
   • 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 originally) Such 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.
      • 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
2. (colloquial) An alien spacecraft.
   • He said that the strange beings then took him aboard their unidentified flying object and examined his body.