alien

adjective

\ ˈā-lē-ən

, ˈāl-yən\

Definition of alien

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

alien

noun

Definition of alien (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a person of another family, race, or nation aliens seeking asylum in the U.S.

2 : 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

3 : extraterrestrial a movie about an invasion of Earth by monstrous aliens

4 : exotic sense 1 Russian thistle, kudzu, and other aliens

alien

verb

aliened; aliening; aliens

Definition of alien (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : alienate, estrange

2 : to transfer the title of (property)

Other Words from alien Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about alien

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Synonyms & Antonyms for alien

Synonyms: Adjective

foreign, nonnative

Synonyms: Verb

alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour

Antonyms: Adjective

domestic, native

Antonyms: Verb

reconcile

Choose the Right Synonym for alien

Adjective

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

new immigrants with customs alien to the community where they have settled 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 emotional cruelty 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

Zipf’s law wouldn’t be enough to determine if an alien transmission is, indeed, a language. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "What humpback whales can teach us about alien languages," 6 Dec. 2018 The pop-up makeup mecca is located in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA and the aesthetic is alien glam – like, if ET were a beauty blogger. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "Kim Kardashian is Opening a KKW Beauty Store Today and the Photos Are UNREAL," 4 Dec. 2018 The woman, all too familiar with the speculation the Coso Artifact has, uh, sparked, was not particularly interested having believers in alien civilizations contacting her, and asked not to be named. — Erik Lacitis, The Seattle Times, "Proof of alien visitors? Artifact from an ancient civilization? The truth is out there — in Seattle," 1 Dec. 2018 Larson stars as Carol Danvers, an air force pilot who’s part Kree (a warrior alien race) and part human, with superhuman powers. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "The First Captain Marvel Trailer Teases Brie Larson as Your Next Favorite Superhero," 18 Sep. 2018 But one of the big questions that remains—especially for those hunting for alien life—is whether those planets and their atmospheres could support life. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "We're Recreating Alien Atmospheres on Earth To Search for Life Beyond the Solar System," 20 Dec. 2018 Another image appears almost as if it is plucked from a Gucci campaign: an amphibious alien creature, slathered in hot pink body glitter, sporting an embellished bustier top, silk opera gloves, and a vintage jewel choker necklace. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Charity Kase Is the London Drag Star Whipping Up Fantastical Looks," 5 Sep. 2018 The suggestion that rings and moons are new is, though, made even more interesting by the fact that one of those moons, Enceladus, is widely considered the most promising site in the solar system on which to look for alien life. — The Economist, "Saturn’s rings and several of its moons may be recent creations," 22 Mar. 2018 Legendary film designer William Cameron Menzies directed from a kid’s perspective in this tale of a boy who watches friends and parents taken over by an alien life form. — John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press, "Sci-fi classics invade the DIA for film series tied to 'Star Wars' exhibit," 7 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

This unisex garb would be almost utopian, if the poor souls on screen weren’t so busy battling aliens, asteroids or each other. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "Who Needs Gender? Why Men and Women Are Dressing Identically," 21 Feb. 2019 Although each episode is built around specific themes -- aliens, space, monsters, dark futures, intelligent machines, time travel -- there's inevitably a fair amount of crossover and overlap among them. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "James Cameron brings star power to 'Story of Science Fiction'," 27 Apr. 2018 Thus, the good and decent people of this country are right to insist that this country should end the illegality, create a rational immigration flow and protect the nation from criminal aliens. — latimes.com, "Read Jeff Sessions' prepared remarks about California's 'sanctuary state' laws," 7 Mar. 2018 But Wat Rong Khun also shows its modernity in many art installations, including nods to superheroes and aliens. — Bridget Hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Beautiful Sacred Sites Around the World," 29 Mar. 2018 The 2006 immigration-reform legislation supported by President George W. Bush provided a comprehensive plan to harden security along the border and provide legal status for the 11 million or so aliens already living in America illegally. — Robert M. Gates, WSJ, "To End the Shutdown, Try Thinking Big on Immigration," 18 Jan. 2019 Michael Vlamis as Michael: The last alien who came with Isobel and Max. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "Everything We Know About "Roswell, New Mexico"," 12 Dec. 2018 The family has a long list of stories including lollipop gardens, childhood adventures and brain sucking aliens among others. — Hartford Courant, courant.com, "Dorothea Winifred Nadeau," 23 Mar. 2018 Despite constant assurances that campus bias is a figment of the right-wing imagination, nothing better illuminates where things stand than the awkward efforts of big-hearted college presidents to connect with their resident ideological aliens. — Grant Addison, National Review, "When College Presidents Mistake Lib-splaining for Conservative Outreach," 6 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The objects, their controllers, and their motivations could utterly alien and unknowable. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "That Time the U.S. Navy Had a Close Encounter With a UFO," 18 Dec. 2017 Alien is a horror movie on a spaceship, to which Aliens adds space marines. — Charlie Jane Anders, WIRED, "Alien: Covenant Proves ‘Franchise Fatigue’ Really Means ‘Boring Movies’," 19 May 2017 The answer, in any case, can only be the Giger alien itself, a contribution to the pantheon of modern design up there with the Coca-Cola logo and the Nike swoosh. — A. O. Scott, New York Times, "Review: ‘Alien: Covenant’ Stays on Brand With Its Terror," 17 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alien.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near alien

Statistics for alien

Last Updated

13 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for alien

The first known use of alien was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for alien

alien

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of alien

(Entry 1 of 2)

: not familiar or like other things you have known : different from what you are used to

: from another country

: too different from something to be acceptable or suitable

alien

noun

English Language Learners Definition of alien (Entry 2 of 2)

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

: a creature that comes from somewhere other than the planet Earth

See the full definition for alien in the English Language Learners Dictionary

alien

adjective

\ ˈā-lē-ən

, ˈāl-yən\

Kids Definition of alien

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : different from what is familiar Keeping their hands clean was an alien idea to the young boys.

2 : from another country and not a citizen of the country of residence : foreign an alien resident

3 : from somewhere other than the planet earth an alien spaceship

alien

noun

Kids Definition of alien (Entry 2 of 2)

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 somewhere other than the planet earth

alien

adjective

\ ˈā-lē-ən, ˈāl-yən

Legal Definition of alien

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

alien

noun

Legal Definition of alien (Entry 2 of 3)

: 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