# dark forest hypothesis

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A proposed explanation for the Fermi paradox that suggests extraterrestrial civilizations are abundant but remain silent and hidden, positing that any intelligent civilization views others as potential threats and thus actively avoids revealing itself.

## Etymology
From dark + forest + hypothesis. From the title of the novel The Dark Forest (2008) (黑暗森林), by Liu Cixin (刘慈欣), from Chinese 黑暗森林, from 黑暗+森林. Coined by Chinese author Cixin Liu originally in Chinese, then translated into English.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dark-forest-hypothesis