noun
Common
alien
AY-lee-uhn
Alien (noun) means a being from another planet. Example: “The children dressed up as green aliens with antennae for the school play.”
noun
1
A being from another planet.
"The children dressed up as green aliens with antennae for the school play."
"In the story, a friendly alien lands in a farmer's field."
"The movie is about aliens invading Earth."
2
A foreign citizen living in a country where they do not hold citizenship.
"As a legal alien, he had to carry his permit whenever he travelled."
"The new rules make it easier for an alien to apply for work."
"She had to renew her resident alien status every few years."
adj
1
Very strange or unfamiliar.
"The loud, crowded city felt alien to someone raised in a quiet village."
"Her way of thinking seemed utterly alien to the rest of the team."
"The customs of the new country felt completely alien to him at first."
verb
1
(formal, law) To transfer ownership of property to someone else.
"The owner decided to alien the farm to her daughter by signing the deed."
"Under the old rules, a tenant could not alien the property without permission."
"The estate could not alien the land without the trustee's consent."
How to use alien
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA being from outer space, a foreign non-citizen, or (as an adjective) something unfamiliar and strange.
Common pairings
illegal alien
alien invasion
feel alien to
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Word forms
- Plural
- aliens
- Third person singular
- aliens
- Past tense
- aliened
- Comparative
- more alien
- Superlative
- most alien
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children dressed up as green _____ with antennae for the school play.
Etymology
From Latin alienus ("belonging to another"), from alius ("other") — related to English "else".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for alien
See all rhymes for 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'.
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