alien
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a creature from another planet.
n.a hypothetical or fictional being from a world other than Earth.
Simple“The movie is about a friendly alien who gets lost on Earth.”
In context“Science fiction often explores how humanity might react to the arrival of an alien species with superior technology.”
SynonymsAntonymsearthling - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who lives in a country but is a citizen of a different country.
n.a person who is not a national or citizen of the country in which they are residing.
Simple“The government issued new work permits for resident aliens.”
In context“The legal distinction between a resident alien and a naturalised citizen remains a central point of debate in immigration reform.”
UsageIn legal contexts, this term is precise, but in everyday speech, it can sometimes sound cold or unwelcoming.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.very strange and different from what you are used to.
adj.fundamentally different, inconsistent, or strange in nature; often used with the preposition 'to'.
Simple“The idea of working in a big office was completely alien to him.”
In context“The harsh, industrial landscape felt entirely alien to the hikers, who were accustomed to the lush greenery of the valley.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to give or sell the ownership of property to someone else.
v.to transfer the ownership of property or a right to another person.
Simple“The owner decided to alien the land to a local charity.”
In context“The contract stipulated that the tenant could not alien the leasehold interest without the express written consent of the landlord.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb used almost exclusively in property law.
“The first time I listened to a soil soundscape, it felt like taking my first steps into an alien world.”
“Its ways of thinking and problem-solving look alien to us.”
From Middle English alien, a borrowing from Old French alien, aliene, from Latin aliēnus (“belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign”), from Latin alius (“other”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos. Related to English else.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.