1
a
: belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing : strange
an alien environment
b
: relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government : foreign
alien residents
c
: exotic sense 1
alien plants
d
: coming from another world : extraterrestrial
alien beings
an alien spaceship
When it comes to knowing what alien life forms might be like, we don't have any idea.—
Kate Shuster
Kate Shuster2
: differing in nature or character typically to the point of incompatibility
ideas alien to democracy
alienly
adverb
1
a
: a person who is not of a particular group or place
aliens seeking asylum in the U.S.
In this way it came to pass that those scattered linen-weavers—emigrants from the town into the country—were to the last regarded as aliens by their rustic neighbours …—George Eliot
George Eliot… she whom we had deemed so … pious, at last died an alien from the church …—Delia Salter Bacon
Delia Salter Bacon
b
: a foreign-born resident who has not been naturalized and is still a subject or citizen of a foreign country
broadly
: a foreign-born citizen
2
: extraterrestrial
a movie about an invasion of Earth by monstrous aliens
3
: exotic sense 1
Russian thistle, kudzu, and other aliens
aliened; aliening; aliens
Synonyms
Examples of alien in a Sentence
Adjective
they were careful to learn of any alien business customs before trying to expand overseas
it's completely alien to her nature to wish evil of anyone
Noun
aliens seeking asylum in the U.S.
He claims that he was captured by space aliens.
Verb
such angry outbursts will rapidly alien any friends you might possibly have left
the couple plans to alien the adjoining house lot to their eldest son
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 Nov. 2024
Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun, Zoë Kravitz, Léa Seydoux, Riley Keough, and Channing Tatum have been confirmed for the cast as the movie’s international sales agent mk2 films gears up to ramp up pre-sales at the AFM.
Alpha Gang centers on a group of alien invaders sent to conquer Earth.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2024
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Napolitano argued that the aliens performed experiments on her before returning her to her bedroom.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
The film follows a ragtag group of actors (played by Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, among other stars) from an ‘80s sci-fi series who aliens unexpectedly abduct during a convention appearance.
—Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for alien 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
But as the two creatives note, maybe there’s a bit of profiling going on if Star Wars fans instantly assumed that Neel and Max Rebo share alien DNA.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 Nov. 2024
Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun, Zoë Kravitz, Léa Seydoux, Riley Keough, and Channing Tatum have been confirmed for the cast as the movie’s international sales agent mk2 films gears up to ramp up pre-sales at the AFM.
Alpha Gang centers on a group of alien invaders sent to conquer Earth.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
Determined to bring Franck back, Elsa begins trying to do the aliens’ bidding, which adds a slight ticking-clock quality to the narrative.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Napolitano argued that the aliens performed experiments on her before returning her to her bedroom.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
In ever more apocalyptic language, Trump has sought to unify his MAGA movement with strongman pledges to defend Americans from millions of hostile foreigners seeking to storm the country and to root out enemy aliens within.
—Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
The film follows a ragtag group of actors (played by Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, among other stars) from an ‘80s sci-fi series who aliens unexpectedly abduct during a convention appearance.
—Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for alien
Articles Related to alien
Dictionary Entries Near alien
Cite this Entry
“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alien. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alien
1 of 2 adjective
ˈā-lē-ən 
ˈāl-yən
1
: relating or belonging to another country : foreign
alien residents
2
3
: wholly different in nature or character
opinions alien to his outlook
4
: belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing : strange
5
: coming from another world : extraterrestrial
alien
2 of 2 noun1
: a resident who was born elsewhere and is not a citizen of the country in which he or she now lives
2
: a being that comes from or lives in another world : extraterrestrial
3
: exotic
Legal Definition
alien
1 of 3 adjective
: relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government
alien
2 of 3 noun
: a foreign-born resident who has not been naturalized and is still a subject or citizen of a foreign country
illegal aliens
an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence—U.S. Code
U.S. Codealien
3 of 3 transitive verb
: alienate
Etymology
Adjective
Latin alienus not one's own, foreign
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