space cadet

English

Etymology

From the title of the 1948 juvenile science fiction novel Space Cadet, by Robert Heinlein.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

space cadet (plural space cadets)

1. (originally) A person in training to be a (generally military) astronaut, especially in science fiction.
2. (slang, derogatory) One who deals with reality in a way consistent with being under the influence of (or "spaced out on") drugs.

   Synonym: space case

3. (slang, derogatory) One who forgets, daydreams, or otherwise is distracted from reality more often than most.

Derived terms

• space-cadet keyboard