alien
Pluralaliens
Pluralaliens
- 1A living thing from another planet or another world.
The movie shows an alien landing in the desert.
Many people wonder whether an alien has ever visited Earth.
Similarextraterrestrial
- 2Coming from another planet, or like something from another planet.
The children drew an alien spaceship covered in blinking lights.
The story describes a strange alien world far beyond our solar system.
Similarextraterrestrial
Oppositeterrestrial, earthly
- 3Very strange and not at all familiar.
Like walking into a place where nothing looks or sounds like home.
The huge new city felt alien to her at first.
Their daily customs seemed alien to the visitors.
UsageUsually alien to someone: the city felt alien to her.
Similarstrange, weird, bizarre, abnormal, unfamiliar
Oppositefamiliar
Note
- 4A person from another country. Sometimes used as an insult for foreigners who are not trusted.
As an alien, she needed a visa to work in the country.
The form asks whether you are a citizen or an alien.
UsageMostly used in law, as in resident alien. People usually say foreigner.
Similarforeigner, noncitizen
Note
- 5
- 6A living thing or person that comes from outside a group, place, or family.
Like a stranger who shows up where everyone already knows each other.
To the old villagers, the quiet newcomer was always an alien.
Many of the plants in this park are aliens from other continents.
Note
Less common meanings
- 7A person who is left out and feels cut off from a group.
Like being left standing outside while everyone else is together inside.
After the scandal, he became an alien in his own hometown.
She felt like an alien among the friends she had known for years.
UsageOften an alien in your own town or group.
Similaroutsider, outcast, stranger
Oppositeinsider
Note
- 8To make someone feel distant and no longer friendly toward you.
- 9To pass ownership of something to someone else.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin aliēnus, meaning "belonging to someone else" and later "foreign," from alius meaning "other." It reached English through Old French.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts
- Alien derives from Latin aliēnus. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin aliēnus meant belonging to someone else and later foreign. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin aliēnus derives from alius, meaning other. en.wiktionary.org
- Alien entered English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org