Dictionary

alternative universe en · NOUN

Meanings

1. A hypothetical world situated in a different dimension of space and time than the real world consisting of the universe known and experienced by human beings.
   • In particular, it has been argued that if any of six (or perhaps a few more) numbers did not have rather particular values, then life as we know it would not be possible; atoms would not exist, or no grativationally bound structures would form in the Universe, or some other calamity would occur that would appear to make the alternative universe a very dull and lifeless place. How, then, did we get so lucky as to be here? 2007 June 21, Bernard Carr, editor, Universe Or Multiverse?, page 367:
2. An imaginary realm, often a variant form of the real world or of the fictional universe usually depicted in a work, depicting a different way events could have unfolded or the universe could have functioned.
   • This mirroring was marked out by the way in which the Federation of Planets, a voluntary association of different worlds, never existed in the alternative universe; instead we find ourselves confronting a vicious militaristic Terran empire. 2022 June 13, S. Sayyid, Recalling the Caliphate – Decolonization and World Order:

Forms

Coordinates

many-worlds · bulk · superspace · omniverse · multiverse · world · universe · higher-dimensional space · brane · metaverse · dimension

Relateds

darkest timeline · mirror universe · alternative history · retrofuture · counterfactual · allohistory · worst timeline

Synonyms

parallel dimension · heterocosm (narrative setting) · alternative world (narrative setting) · parallel world (narrative setting) · parallel universe · alternative dimension

Translations (1)

pt universo alternativo (imaginary realm in literature)