Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

first contact

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.96 in modern English

Syllables: first -con-tact
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The first meeting between people of two previously unknown cultures.

Uncountable

noun

The first meeting between humans and extraterrestrials.

Uncountable

noun

The moment, during an eclipse or transit, when the apparent positions of the two bodies first touch.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"He had piloted the Adastra to its first contact with the civilization of another solar system. His lifework was done and he was wholly prepared to rest."
"Tam is a telepath of extraordinary talent, even for a Betazoid. He's a specialist in first contact with new life forms."
"Humanity’s first contact with an alien race occurred in 2157. At that time, the Alliance allowed survey fleets to activate any dormant mass relays discovered, a practice considered dangerous and irresponsible by Council-aligned races. When a turian patrol discovered a human fleet attempting to activate a relay, they attacked. One human vessel survived, retreating to the colony of Shanxi."

Usage

Uncountable

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Biology.

Inflected Forms

first contacts (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

second contact third contact fourth contact

Questions

What does first contact mean?: The first meeting between people of two previously unknown cultures.

How to pronounce first contact

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “first contact”.
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