alien

1 of 3

adjective

ˈā-lē-ən How to pronounce alien (audio)
ˈāl-yən
1
a
: 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
alienly adverb
alienness
ˈā-lē-ən-nəs How to pronounce alien (audio)
ˈāl-yən-nəs
noun

alien

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: 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
b
: 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
2
: extraterrestrial
a movie about an invasion of Earth by monstrous aliens
3
: exotic sense 1
Russian thistle, kudzu, and other aliens

alien

3 of 3

verb

aliened; aliening; aliens

transitive verb

1
2
: 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
Adjective
Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic's rival of alien origin, is also anticipated to make his big screen debut. Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 23 Mar. 2024 Despite these constants, in recent centuries, politics has taken on a particular ideological shape that would have been alien to those living in the ancient or medieval world. CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024 Albert Lord, a pioneer scholar of bardic traditions, thought that the concept of originality was alien to the traditional singers of song. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Her debut, Metal Storm, is a big-budget space Western about a cowboy and alien whose intense romance ends abruptly. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 In the post–Cold War world, with globalization on the march, the idea that national interests might be at odds with open markets and expanding trade came to seem alien to American executives. Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024 That said, as much as a 53 kWh battery pack and a Tesla motor are inherently alien to the Porsche platform, Everrati makes engineering efforts to ensure this 500 hp EV retains some elemental similarities to its donor vehicle. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024 Spider-Man universe movies Venom Venom is a character from the Marvel comics who received his spin-off in 2018 with Venom, the story of journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) whose body merges with the alien Venom, ingraining him with superhuman strength and power. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The office also rejected the claim that US had or was covering up a program to reverse-engineer alien technology. Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Jack and Jin meet with one of the aliens’ human allies, Tatiana (Marlo Kelly), who invites them to join an organization preparing the planet for the San-Ti’s arrival. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 Ye serves as the show’s antagonist, having built a following of zealots convinced that the aliens will save humanity from itself and therefore aiding them in shutting down Earth’s scientific progress. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024 There's aliens, there's people on the ground who want the aliens to come. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024 At one point, one of the members of the conspiracy is surprised to realize that the aliens don’t understand the concept of lying. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 Others stemmed from confusion over top-secret government programs around aerial drones and satellites that had nothing to do with aliens, according to the 63-page report from the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 This may include claims of UFO sightings or encounters with aliens, which are then claimed to be dismissed or suppressed by official channels. Mark Travers, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 However, an argument ensues between them since Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens exist, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts exist. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 The report also challenges the accounts of whistle-blowers and former government officials who have said the United States is hiding evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial material from the public. Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
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 In particular, artist Bryan Hitch's work with writer Mark Millar on The Ultimates made the Avengers cool and provided a useful blueprint for the eventual Marvel Cinematic Universe (from inventing the Chitauri aliens to drawing Nick Fury to look like Samuel L. Jackson). Christian Holub, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2023 While on Earth, Thomas patents alien technology and gets very rich, with the intention of using it to build a vessel to bring water home. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 But even that description fails to capture what Yagi is after: those parts of us, precious and possibly hostile, which flower in darkness, disintegrate when described, and can be compared only to alien life-forms. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Neanderthal to alien, and yet strangely well-suited for the modern era. Nick Remsen, CNN, 30 Sep. 2021 These stars and related systems should be priority one for current and future efforts to seek out exoplanets that may bear not only life but perhaps even alien technological civilizations, some astronomers say. Tess Joosse, Scientific American, 1 July 2021 Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alien.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near alien

Cite this Entry

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alien. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

alien

1 of 2 adjective
ˈā-lē-ən How to pronounce alien (audio)
ˈāl-yən
1
: relating or belonging to another country : foreign
alien residents
2
3
: wholly different in nature or character
opinions alien to his outlook

alien

2 of 2 noun
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 or lives in another world : extraterrestrial
3
: exotic

Legal Definition

alien

1 of 3 adjective
: 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 residenceU.S. Code

alien

3 of 3 transitive verb
Etymology

Adjective

Latin alienus not one's own, foreign

More from Merriam-Webster on alien

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