: 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
… she whom we had deemed so … pious, at last died an alien from the church … Delia Salter Bacon
b
: a foreign-born resident who has not been naturalized and is still a subject or citizen of a foreign country
extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.
sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value
extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.
arguments extraneous to the issue
foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.
techniques foreign to French cuisine
alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.
a practice totally alien to her nature
Example Sentences
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 Nounaliens 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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The film, which now found the alien species ravaging the streets of New York City, wasn’t received as well as the first. Carson Burton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2022 We simply cannot be erased — not even by an alien invasion. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 26 July 2022 The series, co-created with David Weil, tells the story of an alien invasion through the eyes of five ordinary people. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2022 Loosely based in the video game universe of the same title, the show dramatizes a 26th century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Convenant.Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2022 That included capping off the finale with a clear environmental message, with the alien threat noting that humans are already well on their way to destroying the planet on their own. Brian Lowry, CNN, 17 Feb. 2022 The plot: Two brothers embark on a journey with their father, who is trying to protect them from an alien threat. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 30 Dec. 2021 The film tells the story of a father, Malik (Ahmed), who embarks on a journey with his two sons to protect them from an alien threat. Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Sep. 2021 This page-turning space adventure follows the crew of the Argus, a ship of misfit soldiers standing watch for an alien threat at the very edge of the universe. Sadie Gennis, Vulture, 8 July 2021
Noun
In another snap, a second sketch done by North shows a similar alien-like figure, though the imaginative drawing features three braids on each side of the figure's head, as well as what appears to be a snake-like tongue coming out of its mouth. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 Imagine a slightly less coy Sally Rooney paired with a highly perceptive alien, with strangely illuminating results. Nathan Deuel, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 The character reminded me of a koala bear, which is actually an alien.cleveland, 22 Aug. 2022 My mother is an alien, and the photos hanging on the wall of my new home will show this. Giada Scodellaro, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Faraday is an alien in a new land, a lizard in a human skin suit.Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022 Your young colleague isn’t an alien from another planet. Roxane Gay, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2022 The shape of the kids' costume alien heads is a specific shape. Clarissa Cruz, EW.com, 25 July 2022 Creon came on, wearing blue and looking like a combination of high priest, business executive, and space alien. Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 15 July 2022
Verb
But even that description fails to capture what Yagi is after: those parts of us, precious and possibly hostile, which flower in darkness, disintegrate when described, and can be compared only to alien life-forms. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Neanderthal to alien, and yet strangely well-suited for the modern era. Nick Remsen, CNN, 30 Sep. 2021 These stars and related systems should be priority one for current and future efforts to seek out exoplanets that may bear not only life but perhaps even alien technological civilizations, some astronomers say. Tess Joosse, Scientific American, 1 July 2021 Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021 Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021 Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021 Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021 Can alien smog lead us to extraterrestrial civilizations? Whitson Gordon, Wired, 8 Apr. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, "foreign," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin aliēnus "not one's own, of others, foreign, strange," derivative of alius "other" (perhaps going back to *aliai-nos, from an adverbialized locative derivative *aliai "elsewhere") — more at else
Noun
Middle English, "foreigner, outsider," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin aliēnus "slave belonging to another person, foreigner, stranger," noun derivative of aliēnus, adjective, "not one's own, foreign" — more at alien entry 1
Verb
Middle English alienen "to transfer or surrender property rights, exclude," borrowed from Anglo-French aliener (Middle French, "to estrange, deprive of reason"), borrowed from Latin alienāre "to transfer (goods, property), lose possession of, render hostile" — more at alienate