extraterrestrial

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​tra·​ter·​res·​tri·​al ˌek-strə-tə-ˈre-strē-əl How to pronounce extraterrestrial (audio)
-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
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Adjective
Furukawa's team also discovered glucose, the primary fuel source for modern life, marking the first time this sugar has been identified in an extraterrestrial sample. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Dec. 2025 Psychedelic communions with extraterrestrial ghosts drive home that knowledge. PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
The Soviet Union wanted to depict its technological might and wasn’t expecting to communicate with extraterrestrials. Gabriela Radulescu, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2025 The following ghosts, monsters, and extraterrestrials just may haunt your dreams. Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extraterrestrial

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extraterrestrial was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“Extraterrestrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extraterrestrial. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on extraterrestrial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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