Informal abbreviation for science fiction, a genre exploring futuristic concepts and technologies.
Shortened form of 'science fiction', coined in the 1920s by magazine editor Hugo Gernsback. The term 'sci-fi' emerged in the 1950s as fans sought a catchier way to refer to the genre.
The term 'sci-fi' was initially rejected by serious science fiction writers who felt it trivialized their work - Isaac Asimov famously preferred 'science fiction' and thought 'sci-fi' sounded too much like 'hi-fi'.
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