ex·tra·ter·res·tri·al
ˌek-strə-tə-ˈre-strē-əl 
-ˈres-chəl,
-ˈresh-chəl
: originating, existing, or occurring outside the earth or its atmosphere
extraterrestrial life
: a being from another world : an extraterrestrial being
Examples of extraterrestrial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
According to the Glasgow University scientist, better understanding how these structures could function in a real-world setting could help guide the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The new teaser, debuting ahead of a larger reveal, signals that the chaotic fan-favorite extraterrestrial is officially reentering, just in time for football’s biggest night.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extraterrestrial
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Adjective
The five-mile-long Babylon 5 space station of the mid-23rd century was constructed by humans in the aftermath of the Earth-Minbari War to be used as a sort of intergalactic watering hole by extraterrestrial races for trade, peace, and diplomacy.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
According to the Glasgow University scientist, better understanding how these structures could function in a real-world setting could help guide the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
Von Däniken argued that extraterrestrials must have visited Earth to lend a hand with various prehistoric undertakings—the Pyramids, the massive stone carvings of Easter Island, the Nazca Lines.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The new teaser, debuting ahead of a larger reveal, signals that the chaotic fan-favorite extraterrestrial is officially reentering, just in time for football’s biggest night.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extraterrestrial
Cite this Entry
“Extraterrestrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extraterrestrial. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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