extraterrestrial

1 of 2

adjective

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

extraterrestrial

2 of 2

noun

: a being from another world : an extraterrestrial being

Examples of extraterrestrial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That winter wonderland becomes a claustrophobic nightmare when an extraterrestrial shapeshifter infiltrates the base camp. —Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025

Advancements in component design like this are important because wheel failure would literally stop an extraterrestrial exploration mission in its tracks. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025

Noun

Both take an empathetic approach to encounters between Humankind and extraterrestrials and provide noble intellectual ingredients for hope eternal. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Well, if extraterrestrials are coming down to Earth, there are worse people to spend a hostile (or maybe peaceful) takeover with than Josh O’Connor. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for extraterrestrial

• estriol
• terrestrial

Kids Definition

extraterrestrial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ter·​res·​tri·​al

ˌek-strə-tə-ˈres-trē-əl

: coming from or existing outside the earth or its atmosphere

extraterrestrial life

extraterrestrial noun