UAP
abbreviation or noun
plural UAP or UAPs
: unidentified aerial phenomenon, unidentified anomalous phenomenon
—used especially as an alternative to UFO or unidentified flying object
… UFO has been replaced by UAP. Scientists and government officials are using the new acronym in an attempt to get away from the stigma and assumptions of little green men that persist when people think of UFOs. Until recently, UAP stood for "unidentified aerial phenomena," but last year's National Defense Authorization Act tweaked the term to stand for "unidentified anomalous phenomena," a broader catch-all category.—
Cameron Joseph
Cameron JosephUAP—unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomenon—is apparently now preferred over UFO, or unidentified flying object. Assertions have been made that people associate "UFO" with alien visitors, whereas the new "UAP" terminology can be more readily associated with additional phenomena, perhaps swamp gas.—Matthew J. Sharps
Matthew J. SharpsSince 2017, my life has been dominated by efforts to help Congress and the public discover the truth about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), what many still refer to as UFOs.—Christopher Mellon
Christopher MellonYet given the growing public clamor (and congressional clamor, for that matter) for information about UFOs, NASA felt compelled to provide the public with some answers. Consequently on Monday the federal agency launched a new study with 16 members for the purpose of determining the best way for NASA to further study what the scientists refer to as "UAPs" (unidentified aerial phenomena).—salon.com
salon.comExamples of UAP in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The filmmaking transforms Skinwalker Ranch into a magic island in a sea of dirt, rock, and sand, and turns the Cabal into a band of brothers who bond by shooting off rockets, scrutinizing LiDAR maps, and enhancing video footage to figure out if a blurry speck in the sky is a UAP or a falcon.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 30 June 2025
The Oscar trophies are produced in Rock Tavern, New York, at the UAP Polich Tallix foundry.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2025
The act proposed laws that would bring about public disclosure on what the Government knows about UAP and non-human intelligence.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
The trophy is American-made by fine art foundry UAP Polich Tallix.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for UAP
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Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 30 June 2025
The Oscar trophies are produced in Rock Tavern, New York, at the UAP Polich Tallix foundry.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2025
The act proposed laws that would bring about public disclosure on what the Government knows about UAP and non-human intelligence.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
The trophy is American-made by fine art foundry UAP Polich Tallix.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for UAP
Cite this Entry
“UAP.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/UAP. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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