alien
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for alien, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A being from another planet.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use alien
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin alienus ("belonging to another"), from alius ("other") — related to English "else".
Full origin of alien →Frequently asked questions
What does “alien” mean?
The word “alien” means a being from another planet. In plain terms, a being from outer space, a foreign non-citizen, or (as an adjective) something unfamiliar and strange.
How do you pronounce “alien”?
“Alien” is pronounced AY-lee-uhn (/ˈeɪ.li.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “alien” in a sentence?
Here is “alien” used in a sentence: “The movie is about aliens invading Earth.”
What is another word for “alien”?
Words with a similar meaning to “alien” include outlander.
What part of speech is “alien”?
Depending on how it is used, “alien” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “alien” come from?
The word “alien” comes from Latin. From Latin alienus ("belonging to another"), from alius ("other") — related to English "else".
Is “alien” a common word?
“Alien” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “alien” have?
“Alien” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a being from another planet.
What is the difference between an alien and an immigrant?
In its legal sense, an 'alien' is simply a foreign citizen living in a country where they do not hold citizenship, a formal or bureaucratic label. 'Immigrant' describes a person who has come to settle in a new country, and is the more everyday, neutral word most people use.
What is the difference between 'alien' as a noun and as an adjective?
As a noun, 'alien' names a being from another planet or a foreign non-citizen. As an adjective it means strange, unfamiliar, or foreign, as in 'an alien landscape' or 'ideas alien to our culture'.
What words commonly go with 'alien'?
Common pairings include 'alien life', 'alien invasion', and 'illegal alien' in legal or immigration contexts. As an adjective you often hear 'alien concept', 'alien environment', and 'utterly alien'.