noun Common

alien

AY-lee-uhn

Alien (noun) means a being from another planet. Example: “The movie is about aliens invading Earth.”

noun

A being from another planet.

"The movie is about aliens invading Earth."

A foreign citizen living in a country where they do not hold citizenship.

"She had to renew her resident alien status every few years."

adj

Very strange or unfamiliar.

"The customs of the new country felt completely alien to him at first."

verb

(formal, law) To transfer ownership of property to someone else.

"The estate could not alien the land without the trustee's consent."

How to Use Alien

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

more alien comparative, aliened past tense, aliens plural, aliens singular, most alien superlative

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The movie is about _____ invading Earth.

Etymology

From Latin alienus ("belonging to another"), from alius ("other") — related to English "else".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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outlander

Related Words

foreigner barbarian peregrine

Rhymes for alien

lien Tien Bien Chien Julien Adrien Vivien Damien Ambien

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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.

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