alien

1 of 3

adjective

ˈā-lē-ən 

ˈāl-yən

1

a

: belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing : strange

an alien environment

b

: relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government : foreign

alien residents

c

: exotic sense 1

alien plants

d

: coming from another world : extraterrestrial

alien beings

an alien spaceship

When it comes to knowing what alien life forms might be like, we don't have any idea.

—Kate Shuster

2

: differing in nature or character typically to the point of incompatibility

ideas alien to democracy

alienly adverb

alienness

ˈā-lē-ən-nəs 

ˈāl-yən-nəs

noun

alien

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: a person who is not of a particular group or place

aliens seeking asylum in the U.S.

In this way it came to pass that those scattered linen-weavers—emigrants from the town into the country—were to the last regarded as aliens by their rustic neighbours …

—George Eliot

… she whom we had deemed so … pious, at last died an alien from the church …

—Delia Salter Bacon

b

: a foreign-born resident who has not been naturalized and is still a subject or citizen of a foreign country

broadly : a foreign-born citizen

2

: extraterrestrial

a movie about an invasion of Earth by monstrous aliens

3

: exotic sense 1

Russian thistle, kudzu, and other aliens

alien

3 of 3

verb

aliened; aliening; aliens

transitive verb

1

: alienate, estrange

2

: to transfer the title of (property)

Synonyms

Adjective

• foreign
• nonnative

Verb

• alienate
• disaffect
• disgruntle
• estrange
• sour

Choose the Right Synonym for alien

extrinsic, extraneous, foreign, alien mean external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character.

extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.

sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value

extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.

arguments extraneous to the issue

foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.

techniques foreign to French cuisine

alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

a practice totally alien to her nature

Examples of alien in a Sentence

Adjective

they were careful to learn of any alien business customs before trying to expand overseas

it's completely alien to her nature to wish evil of anyone

Noun

aliens seeking asylum in the U.S.

He claims that he was captured by space aliens.

Verb

such angry outbursts will rapidly alien any friends you might possibly have left

the couple plans to alien the adjoining house lot to their eldest son

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The story, written by friends Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, reveals Superman’s origins as an alien child sent to Earth to escape the destruction of his planet, and introduces his love interest, Lois Lane. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

In addition to his murder charges, the husband was charged with alien inadmissibility. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

How did the fun little alien episode leave me in tears? —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024

Just a wonderfully charming and funny show with great characters and a fun alien plot. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

As a Mets fan, the concept of reasonable hopes feels almost completely alien because of the unluckiness that is just baked into this team. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024

Share [Findings] Astrophysicists argued that the development of advanced alien technology requires an atmosphere composed of at least 18 percent oxygen. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024

Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic's rival of alien origin, is also anticipated to make his big screen debut. —Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 23 Mar. 2024

Despite these constants, in recent centuries, politics has taken on a particular ideological shape that would have been alien to those living in the ancient or medieval world. —CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024

Noun

Places like Stonehenge give rise to theories that include everything from ancient druids to signs of the influence of aliens on ancient human civilizations. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024

The visuals are also cool, the aliens appropriately enigmatic, and the performances excellent. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024

For Laurent, the idea and the images came first — what if Babar were abducted by aliens, or practiced yoga? —Penelope Green, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

The clean design suggests that aliens are fond of Apple products, or perhaps that Steve Jobs came from space, which some people probably do believe. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024

But even as hopes for a biosignature detection soar, some scientists are starting to openly ask whether gases in the atmosphere of an exoplanet will ever be convincing evidence for aliens. —Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024

Myriad theories about aliens, wormholes, government cover-ups, and time travel are proffered by a menagerie of weirdos—fanatical researchers, ex-government officials, huckster media personalities. —Lucas Ropek / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024

Jack and Jin meet with one of the aliens’ human allies, Tatiana (Marlo Kelly), who invites them to join an organization preparing the planet for the San-Ti’s arrival. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024

Ye serves as the show’s antagonist, having built a following of zealots convinced that the aliens will save humanity from itself and therefore aiding them in shutting down Earth’s scientific progress. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024

Verb

The film follows a ragtag group of actors (played by Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, among other stars) from an ‘80s sci-fi series who aliens unexpectedly abduct during a convention appearance. —Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2023

In particular, artist Bryan Hitch's work with writer Mark Millar on The Ultimates made the Avengers cool and provided a useful blueprint for the eventual Marvel Cinematic Universe (from inventing the Chitauri aliens to drawing Nick Fury to look like Samuel L. Jackson). —Christian Holub, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2023

While on Earth, Thomas patents alien technology and gets very rich, with the intention of using it to build a vessel to bring water home. —Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022

But even that description fails to capture what Yagi is after: those parts of us, precious and possibly hostile, which flower in darkness, disintegrate when described, and can be compared only to alien life-forms. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022

Neanderthal to alien, and yet strangely well-suited for the modern era. —Nick Remsen, CNN, 30 Sep. 2021

These stars and related systems should be priority one for current and future efforts to seek out exoplanets that may bear not only life but perhaps even alien technological civilizations, some astronomers say. —Tess Joosse, Scientific American, 1 July 2021

Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? —Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, "foreign," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin aliēnus "not one's own, of others, foreign, strange," derivative of alius "other" (perhaps going back to *aliai-nos, from an adverbialized locative derivative *aliai "elsewhere") — more at else

Noun

Middle English, "foreigner, outsider," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin aliēnus "slave belonging to another person, foreigner, stranger," noun derivative of aliēnus, adjective, "not one's own, foreign" — more at alien entry 1

Verb

Middle English alienen "to transfer or surrender property rights, exclude," borrowed from Anglo-French aliener (Middle French, "to estrange, deprive of reason"), borrowed from Latin alienāre "to transfer (goods, property), lose possession of, render hostile" — more at alienate

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alien

• anti-alien
• nonresident alien
• illegal alien
• illegal alien/immigrant

Kids Definition

alien

1 of 2 adjective

ˈā-lē-ən 

ˈāl-yən

1

: relating or belonging to another country : foreign

alien residents

2

: exotic sense 1

3

: wholly different in nature or character

opinions alien to his outlook

alien

2 of 2 noun

1

: a resident who was born elsewhere and is not a citizen of the country in which he or she now lives

2

: a being that comes from or lives in another world : extraterrestrial

3

: exotic

Legal Definition

alien

1 of 3 adjective

ˈā-lē-ən, ˈāl-yən 

: relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government

alien

2 of 3 noun

: a foreign-born resident who has not been naturalized and is still a subject or citizen of a foreign country

illegal aliens

an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence

—U.S. Code

alien

3 of 3 transitive verb

: alienate

Etymology

Adjective

Latin alienus not one's own, foreign