The term SCI-FI MACHINE can be broken down into two words, 'sci-fi' and 'MACHINE'. Sci-fi is an abbreviation for science fiction, a genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. A MACHINE is a device consisting of one or more parts that uses energy to perform an intended action. Therefore, the term SCI-FI MACHINE can be defined as a device that uses advanced science and technology to perform an intended action, often in a futuristic setting. The crossword solution for this term is ROBOT, which is a MACHINE that is capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically.