alien

1 of 3

adjective

ˈā-lē-ən

ˈāl-yən

Synonyms of alien next

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

an alien environment

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

alien residents

: exotic sense 1

alien plants

: 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

: 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

: 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

: 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

: extraterrestrial

a movie about an invasion of Earth by monstrous aliens

: exotic sense 1

Russian thistle, kudzu, and other aliens

alien

3 of 3

verb

aliened; aliening; aliens

transitive verb

: alienate, estrange

: to transfer the title of (property)

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Beck and Woods don’t have to dream up something alien when these kinds of garden-variety predators are all too insidious. —

Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024 Related article ‘Dyson spheres’ were theorized as a way to detect alien life. —

Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

In the novel, an astrophysicist, as an act of revenge for her father’s murder by Red Guards, chooses to put Earth at risk by sending out a provocative interstellar message to hostile aliens. —

H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 5 Nov. 2024 So, a successful search for cosmic AI might require a search strategy that is quite different from the type of search needed when looking for biological aliens. —

Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

In ever more apocalyptic language, Trump has sought to unify his MAGA movement with strongman pledges to defend Americans from millions of hostile foreigners seeking to storm the country and to root out enemy aliens within. —

Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for alien

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

Time Traveler

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alien. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

alien

1 of 2 adjective

ˈā-lē-ən

ˈāl-yən

: relating or belonging to another country : foreign

alien residents

: exotic sense 1

: wholly different in nature or character

opinions alien to his outlook

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

: coming from another world : extraterrestrial

alien

2 of 2 noun

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

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

: 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

Last Updated: 15 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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alien

adjective

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of alien in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near alien

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition