Definitions
01extraterrestrial
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. a creature from another planet.
n. a hypothetical or fictional being from a world other than Earth.
日本語:宇宙人※
“The movie is about a friendly alien who gets lost on Earth.”
“Science fiction often explores how humanity might react to the arrival of an alien species with superior technology.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02foreign national
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law Formal
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.
“The government issued new work permits for resident aliens.”
“The legal distinction between a resident alien and a naturalised citizen remains a central point of debate in immigration reform.”
Usage
In legal contexts, this term is precise, but in everyday speech, it can sometimes sound cold or unwelcoming.
Synonyms
03strange or unfamiliar
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'.
“The idea of working in a big office was completely alien to him.”
“The harsh, industrial landscape felt entirely alien to the hikers, who were accustomed to the lush greenery of the valley.”
Synonyms
04to transfer property
C2 · Proficiency Law Formal · Technical
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.
“The owner decided to alien the land to a local charity.”
“The contract stipulated that the tenant could not alien the leasehold interest without the express written consent of the landlord.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb used almost exclusively in property law.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “alien” in context.
Verb
01. deport an alien
“The government decided to deport the alien after his visa had expired.”
verb + noun
02. encounter an alien
“The protagonist was shocked to encounter an alien life form in the depths of the ocean.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. extraterrestrial alien
“Science fiction often depicts the first contact between humans and an extraterrestrial alien.”
adj + noun
04. illegal alien
“The documentary explores the complex legal challenges faced by an illegal alien seeking asylum.”
adj + noun
05. resident alien
“As a resident alien, she is required to carry her green card at all times.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. alien abduction
“He wrote a book detailing his supposed experience of an alien abduction in the desert.”
noun + noun
07. alien invasion
“The movie features a terrifying alien invasion that threatens the survival of humanity.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“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.” “What if evidence of alien life exists, but we simply fail to recognize it?” “One example comes from the recent blockbuster "Project Hail Mary," which features a five-limbed alien with a rock-like exterior.” Etymology
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.
The word in film
Alien · 1979 · Sci-Fi
- Directed by:
- Ridley Scott
- Starring:
- Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Ian Holm
Ridley Scott's classic science fiction horror film follows the crew of a spaceship who encounter a deadly extraterrestrial life form. Sigourney Weaver stars as a survivor fighting to escape the dangerous creature before it destroys everyone on board.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/alien
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0