# alien

/ˈeɪɫiən/ (US) · /ˈeɪliən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alien
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. extraterrestrial

noun · CEFR B1

a creature from another planet.

For teachers: a hypothetical or fictional being from a world other than Earth.

- 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.

### 2. foreign national

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a person who lives in a country but is a citizen of a different country.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. strange or unfamiliar

adjective · CEFR B2

very strange and different from what you are used to.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to transfer property

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to give or sell the ownership of property to someone else.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The law protects the rights of every resident alien.
- After living in the country for ten years, he applied to change his status from resident alien to citizen.
- The treaty outlines specific protections for enemy aliens during times of conflict, ensuring they are treated humanely despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between their nations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.