# Martian

/ˈmɑɹʃən/ (US) · /mˈɑːʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/martian
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. alien from Mars

noun · CEFR B1

an imaginary creature or person that lives on the planet Mars.

For teachers: a hypothetical or fictional inhabitant of the planet Mars, common in science fiction literature and cinema.

- In the old movie, a green Martian lands his spaceship in the middle of London.
- Early twentieth-century science fiction often depicted the Martian as a technologically superior but physically frail invader from a dying world.

### 2. relating to the planet Mars

adjective · CEFR B1

related to the planet Mars, its environment, or its appearance.

For teachers: pertaining to the physical characteristics, atmosphere, or exploration of the planet Mars.

- The rover sent back high-quality photos of the red Martian dust.
- The latest mission aims to analyse the Martian soil for traces of ancient water and organic compounds.

### 3. relating to the god Mars

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

related to the Roman god of war, Mars.

For teachers: pertaining to the Roman deity Mars; occasionally used in literary contexts to describe warlike or aggressive qualities.

- The poet described the soldier's Martian spirit in the heat of battle.
- The statue captured the deity in a characteristically Martian pose, brandishing a spear as a symbol of military might.

## Examples

- The movie is about a Martian who visits Earth.
- Early science fiction writers often depicted a Martian as a green-skinned being with advanced technology living among dusty ruins.
- The scientific community spent decades searching for microbial life on the Red Planet, hoping to find even simple evidence of a prehistoric Martian organism.

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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.