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.
Meanings
Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the citizens or subjects thereof; foreign.
alien subjects, enemies, property, or shores
Very unfamiliar, strange, or removed.
An alien sound of melancholy. 1850, William Wordsworth, The Prelude:
principles alien to our religion
Pertaining to extraterrestrial life; typical of an extraterrestrial creature.
It had a peculiar alien tallness, a peculiar alien flattened head, peculiar slitty little alien eyes[.] 1982, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything, page 8:
th ต่างด้าว (not belonging to the same country) · es extraterrestre (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · de fremd (very unfamiliar, strange) · gl estranxeira (not belonging to the same country) · id pendatang baru (very unfamiliar, strange) · enm alien (not belonging to the same country) · gd coimheach (very unfamiliar, strange) · no utenomjordisk (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · de außerirdisch (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · uk інозе́мний (not belonging to the same country) · la aliēnus (not belonging to the same country) · grc ἀλλότριος (not belonging to the same country) · et võõramaine (not belonging to the same country) · eo fremda (very unfamiliar, strange) · pt alheio (very unfamiliar, strange) · de fremdländisch (not belonging to the same country) · et maaväline (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · es ajeno (very unfamiliar, strange) · hi अनजान (very unfamiliar, strange) · fr étranger (not belonging to the same country) · mk туѓ (very unfamiliar, strange) · gl estraño (very unfamiliar, strange) · gl estranxeiro (not belonging to the same country) · uk чужи́й (very unfamiliar, strange) · da fremmedartet (very unfamiliar, strange) · mk во́нземен (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · ca aliè (very unfamiliar, strange) · ca alié (very unfamiliar, strange) · et võõras (very unfamiliar, strange) · eo eksterterula (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · ro străin (not belonging to the same country) · ja 異質な (very unfamiliar, strange) · es alienígena (not belonging to the same country) · fi vierasmaalainen (not belonging to the same country) · mk стра́нски (not belonging to the same country) · id asing (not belonging to the same country) · pt alienígena (not belonging to the same country) · grc ξένος (not belonging to the same country) · cmn 外來的 /外来的 (not belonging to the same country) · nl buitenlands (not belonging to the same country) · gl estraña (very unfamiliar, strange) · ga coimhthíoch (very unfamiliar, strange) · fr extraterrestre (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · ja 外来の (not belonging to the same country) · uk позаземний (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · hy օտար (very unfamiliar, strange) · hi परग्रही (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · mk вонзе́мјански (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · de fremd (not belonging to the same country) · el ξένος (not belonging to the same country) · de ausländisch (not belonging to the same country) · es alienígena (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · hi विदेशी (not belonging to the same country) · ja 相容れない (very unfamiliar, strange) · ca alienígena (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · hy այլմոլորակային (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · et välismaine (not belonging to the same country) · de fremdartig (very unfamiliar, strange) · nl vreemd (very unfamiliar, strange) · pt extraterrestre (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · es alienígeno (very unfamiliar, strange) · ro nefamiliar (very unfamiliar, strange) · la aliēnus (very unfamiliar, strange) · da udenlandsk (not belonging to the same country) · uk чужозе́мний (not belonging to the same country) · kk бөгде (very unfamiliar, strange) · nl buitenaards (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · pt alienígena (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · ga coimhthíoch (not belonging to the same country) · el ξένος (very unfamiliar, strange) · bg чужд (not belonging to the same country) · ja 外国の (not belonging to the same country) · no fremmed (very unfamiliar, strange) · mk туѓ (not belonging to the same country) · fi avaruusolio- (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · sv utomjordisk (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · it extraterrestre (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · la peregrīnus (not belonging to the same country) · uk інопланетний (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · fi avaruusolento- (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · sv främmande (very unfamiliar, strange) · ca extraterrestre (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · fi muukalainen (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · th ต่างประเทศ (not belonging to the same country) · sv främmande (not belonging to the same country) · de auswärtig (not belonging to the same country) · mi tautangata (not belonging to the same country) · nl allochtoon (not belonging to the same country) · bg чуждестранен (not belonging to the same country) · hi अपरिचित (very unfamiliar, strange) · fi vieras (very unfamiliar, strange) · gl extraterrestre (pertaining to extraterrestrial life) · pl cudzoziemski (not belonging to the same country) · ro extraterestru (pertaining to extraterrestrial life)
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.
Meanings
A person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.
An animated film intended to inform travellers about the dangers that alien species present to Arctic ecosystems is being released today. The message is that it is important to ensure that nobody accidentally brings alien species with them as stowaways in their clothing, baggage or equipment. 2023 March 21 (last accessed), NOBANIS: European Network on Invasive Species:
A citizen or national of another sovereign state.
An alien born may purchase lands, or other estates: but not for his own use; for the king is thereupon entitled to them. 1773, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the laws of England: in four books, 5th edition, volume 1, page 372:
Aliens are aliens because of persecution or war or hardship or famine. 2004, Wesley Campbell, Stephen Court, Be a hero: the battle for mercy and social justice, Destiny Image Publishers, page 74:
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York 1987, “Englishman in New York”, in …Nothing Like the Sun, performed by Sting:
The counsel have shown conclusively that they are not a state of the union, and have insisted that individually they are aliens, not owing allegiance to the United States. 1831, John Marshall, Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, U.S. Government:
(derogatory, sometimes) A mischievous or suspicious foreigner.
Any life form of extraterrestrial or extradimensional origin.
You might not have much use for me. You spend too much time with the damn aliens, pretending your time in the gangs back on Earth never happened. I know you weren't happy when I found you at the Citadel a couple years back.
But I'm glad you're on this. I hope you find whoever took my people on Freedom's Progress and kick their scaly asses. I'm glad it's a human finding these bastards. 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Hello from the Reds:
One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged.
[…]aliens from the common wealth of Iſrael[…] 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ephesians 2:12, column 2:
The One Who, in this marvellous utterance, brings those who were by nature aliens and enemies of God into intimate and holy relations with God the Father, is the very One Who had to come to offer that Sacrifice without which such relationship would have been forever an impossibility; without which there would have been nothing for the best of men but death and judgment and the lake of fire. 1928, Philip Mauro, “The Character of the Sermon on the Mount”, in The Gospel of the Kingdom, with an Examination of Modern Dispensationalism (Religion), Boston: Hamilton Brothers, →OCLC, page 182:
outlander (foreigner) · guest (etc. from outside) · fremd (etc. from outside) · stranger (etc. from outside)
Translations (299)
id makhluk asing (life form of non-Earth origin) · fr étranger (person, etc. from outside) · nl buitenlander (foreigner) · ur بیگانَہ (foreigner) · bg извънзе́мна (life form of non-Earth origin) · it alieno (life form of non-Earth origin) · cmn 老外 (foreigner) · ko 외계인 (life form of non-Earth origin) · fr étrangère (foreigner) · is aðkomumaður (person, etc. from outside) · fa بیگانه (life form of non-Earth origin) · la peregrīnus (foreigner) · et tulnukas (life form of non-Earth origin) · th มนุษย์ต่างดาว (life form of non-Earth origin) · ko 이국인 (foreigner) · ru незнако́мец (person, etc. from outside) · ru прише́лец (person, etc. from outside) · uk іншопланетя́нка (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh стра́нац (foreigner) · pl istota pozaziemska (life form of non-Earth origin) · nv yótʼááh dineʼé dootłʼizhígíí (life form of non-Earth origin) · es extraterrestre (life form of non-Earth origin) · nn romvesen (life form of non-Earth origin) · ro străină (person, etc. from outside) · de Weltraumwesen (life form of non-Earth origin) · ro extraterestru (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh свеми́рац (life form of non-Earth origin) · tr ecnebi (foreigner) · cmn 宇宙人 (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh изванзема́љац (person, etc. from outside) · ru посторо́нняя (person, etc. from outside) · fr étrangère (person, etc. from outside) · sv utlänning (foreigner) · el ξένος (foreigner) · az gəlmə (person, etc. from outside) · fi vierasmaalainen (foreigner) · kk келімсек (person, etc. from outside) · sh izvanzemáljac (life form of non-Earth origin) · gl estraño (person, etc. from outside) · ja エイリアン (life form of non-Earth origin) · gd coimheach (foreigner) · es forastero (person, etc. from outside) · mk вонзе́мјанка (life form of non-Earth origin) · ar أَجْنَبِيّ (foreigner) · ko 외국인 (person, etc. from outside) · pal 𐭠𐭭𐭥𐭲𐭪 (person, etc. from outside) · nb fremmed (person, etc. from outside) · be іншапланеця́нка (life form of non-Earth origin) · scn furisteri (foreigner) · nl vluchtelinge (foreigner) · es alienígena (life form of non-Earth origin) · de Fremde (person, etc. from outside) · ko 우주인 (life form of non-Earth origin) · he גֵּר (foreigner) · is útlendingur (foreigner) · tt чит (person, etc. from outside) · ko 외국인 (foreigner) · eo alilandano (foreigner) · ga coimhthíoch (foreigner) · io stranjero (person, etc. from outside) · cs ufoun (life form of non-Earth origin) · el ξένος (person, etc. from outside) · la peregrīnus (person, etc. from outside) · ar فَضَائِيّ m or فَضَائِيَّة (life form of non-Earth origin) · sl nezemljanka (life form of non-Earth origin) · ja 宇宙人 (life form of non-Earth origin) · ru посторо́нний (person, etc. from outside) · scn strana (foreigner) · et maaväline olend (life form of non-Earth origin) · et muulane (foreigner) · ru иностра́нец (foreigner) · es advena (person, etc. from outside) · hi परग्रही (life form of non-Earth origin) · cmn 陌生人 (person, etc. from outside) · it straniero (person, etc. from outside) · uk інопланетя́нин (life form of non-Earth origin) · fr extraterrestre (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh stránac (foreigner) · ja 異星人 (life form of non-Earth origin) · mi tarutawhiti (foreigner) · az əcnəbi (foreigner) · es desconocida (person, etc. from outside) · ja 余所者 (person, etc. from outside) · gd Gall (foreigner) · pt estranho (person, etc. from outside) · he חַיְזָר (life form of non-Earth origin) · hu idegen (foreigner) · scn stranu (foreigner) · hi परदेसी (foreigner) · hy օտար (person, etc. from outside) · sq huaj (i/e) (person, etc. from outside) · de Fremder (person, etc. from outside) · ca estranya (person, etc. from outside) · fr étranger (foreigner) · sv främling (person, etc. from outside) · sh свеми́рац (person, etc. from outside) · de Ausländer (person, etc. from outside) · de Fremder (foreigner) · sh svemírac (life form of non-Earth origin) · sk mimozemšťanka (life form of non-Earth origin) · ar أَجْنَبِيَّة (foreigner) · ur پَرْدیسی (foreigner) · sh izvanzemáljac (person, etc. from outside) · ro străin (person, etc. from outside) · scn furisteri (person, etc. from outside) · ru инопланетя́нка (life form of non-Earth origin) · fa-ira خارِجی (foreigner) · de Fremde (foreigner) · sh ванзема́љац (life form of non-Earth origin) · hi अनजाना (person, etc. from outside) · ca estrany (foreigner) · es extranjera (foreigner) · it extraterrestre (life form of non-Earth origin) · scn furistera (person, etc. from outside) · be іншапланеця́нін (life form of non-Earth origin) · pt alienígena (life form of non-Earth origin) · uk інопланетя́нка (life form of non-Earth origin) · eo eksterterulo (life form of non-Earth origin) · ka უცხოპლანეტური (life form of non-Earth origin) · hi परदेसी (person, etc. from outside) · uga 𐎐𐎋𐎗 (foreigner) · io stranjero (foreigner) · gd coigreach (foreigner) · ota یابانجی (foreigner) · eo fremdulo (person, etc. from outside) · ar kāʔina(t) faḍāʔiyya (life form of non-Earth origin) · de Fremdling (person, etc. from outside) · scn furistera (foreigner) · tr el (foreigner) · ar غَرِيب (person, etc. from outside) · mk стра́нец (foreigner) · ro străină (foreigner) · hu űrlakó (life form of non-Earth origin) · hi बाहरी (person, etc. from outside) · fi muukalainen (person, etc. from outside) · pl ufoludek (life form of non-Earth origin) · tt ят (person, etc. from outside) · cs cizinec (foreigner) · cmn 外星人 (life form of non-Earth origin) · fo rúmdarvera (life form of non-Earth origin) · ru чужа́к (person, etc. from outside) · mi tarutawhiti (person, etc. from outside) · da rumvæsen (life form of non-Earth origin) · uk чужопланетя́нка (life form of non-Earth origin) · nl vreemdeling (person, etc. from outside) · tr yabancı (person, etc. from outside) · pl zielony ludzik (life form of non-Earth origin) · ca extraterrestre (life form of non-Earth origin) · bg чужденка́ (person, etc. from outside) · de Alien (life form of non-Earth origin) · ga coimhthíoch (person, etc. from outside) · sv utomjording (life form of non-Earth origin) · ca estrany (person, etc. from outside) · id makhluk luar (life form of non-Earth origin) · mk ту́ѓинец (foreigner) · sq jashtëtokësor (life form of non-Earth origin) · bg чужденка́ (foreigner) · et välismaalane (foreigner) · cs mimozemšťan (life form of non-Earth origin) · ru чужезе́мец (foreigner) · mk туѓо́земец (person, etc. from outside) · ko 이국인 (person, etc. from outside) · it forestiero (foreigner) · fa-ira بیگانِه (foreigner) · nl vreemdelinge (person, etc. from outside) · et tulnukas (person, etc. from outside) · ms makhluk asing (life form of non-Earth origin) · sv rymdvarelse (life form of non-Earth origin) · ca foraster (foreigner) · ru прише́лец (life form of non-Earth origin) · ka უცხოელი (foreigner) · bg чуждене́ц (foreigner) · da alien (life form of non-Earth origin) · pl obcokrajowiec (foreigner) · nl allochtoon (foreigner) · he זָר (person, etc. from outside) · hy այլմոլորակային (life form of non-Earth origin) · scn aliena (life form of non-Earth origin) · pt extraterrestre (life form of non-Earth origin) · ca forastera (person, etc. from outside) · az xarici (foreigner) · gd coimheach (person, etc. from outside) · es desconocido (person, etc. from outside) · pl cudzoziemiec (foreigner) · bg чуждене́ц (person, etc. from outside) · fa-ira اَجْنَبی (foreigner) · hu űrlény (life form of non-Earth origin) · scn strana (person, etc. from outside) · cmn 外國人 /外国人 (foreigner) · hi अनजानी (person, etc. from outside) · es extranjero (foreigner) · fr alien (life form of non-Earth origin) · uk чужи́й (person, etc. from outside) · enm alien (foreigner) · ga eachtrán (life form of non-Earth origin) · az uzaylı (life form of non-Earth origin) · pt alien (life form of non-Earth origin) · pal 𐭠𐭭𐭥𐭲𐭪 (life form of non-Earth origin) · la aliēnus (foreigner) · vi người nước ngoài (foreigner) · ka უცხოტომელი (foreigner) · nb romvesen (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh изванзема́љац (life form of non-Earth origin) · vi người ngoại quốc (foreigner) · sk mimozemšťan (life form of non-Earth origin) · ja 外国人 (foreigner) · fi ulkomaalainen (foreigner) · bg извънзе́мен (life form of non-Earth origin) · uk чужи́нець (person, etc. from outside) · mi tautangata (person, etc. from outside) · gl extraterrestre (life form of non-Earth origin) · is geimvera (life form of non-Earth origin) · de Ausländerin (foreigner) · cmn 外人 (foreigner) · ja 外人 (foreigner) · et muulane (person, etc. from outside) · ru незнако́мка (person, etc. from outside) · eo aliplanedano (life form of non-Earth origin) · et võõras (person, etc. from outside) · ca estranya (foreigner) · sh svemírac (person, etc. from outside) · nl alien (life form of non-Earth origin) · ka უცხო (person, etc. from outside) · de Ausländer (foreigner) · cs mimozemšťanka (life form of non-Earth origin) · tr gavur (foreigner) · io extraterano (life form of non-Earth origin) · de Ausländerin (person, etc. from outside) · eo fremdulo (foreigner) · pl kosmita (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh vanzemáljac (life form of non-Earth origin) · gl estranxeiro (foreigner) · ro străin (foreigner) · kk келімсек (life form of non-Earth origin) · uk чужозе́мець (foreigner) · ca forastera (foreigner) · hi विदेशी (person, etc. from outside) · uk іншопланетя́нин (life form of non-Earth origin) · eo alilandano (person, etc. from outside) · pl obcy (person, etc. from outside) · el εξωγήινος (life form of non-Earth origin) · hu földönkívüli (life form of non-Earth origin) · de Außerirdische (life form of non-Earth origin) · fi muukalainen (foreigner) · id makhluk angkasa (life form of non-Earth origin) · uk чужопланетя́нин (life form of non-Earth origin) · tr uzaylı (life form of non-Earth origin) · ko 에일리언 (life form of non-Earth origin) · hi अन्यदेशीय (foreigner) · uk інозе́мець (foreigner) · uk прибу́лець (person, etc. from outside) · de Außerirdischer (life form of non-Earth origin) · ru инопланетя́нин (life form of non-Earth origin) · mk вонзе́мјанин (life form of non-Earth origin) · nl vluchteling (foreigner) · ur اَجْنَبی (foreigner) · ja 異邦人 (foreigner) · ru инопланетя́не (life form of non-Earth origin) · pt forasteiro (foreigner) · sv utomjordling (life form of non-Earth origin) · az yadplanetli (life form of non-Earth origin) · nl ruimtewezen (life form of non-Earth origin) · vi người ngoài hành tinh (life form of non-Earth origin) · cmn 異客 /异客 (person, etc. from outside) · la aliēnus (person, etc. from outside) · it straniero (foreigner) · hu idegen (person, etc. from outside) · ur اجنبی (person, etc. from outside) · sq huaj (i/e) (foreigner) · th ฝรั่ง (foreigner) · tr yabancı (foreigner) · hi विदेशी (foreigner) · pt estrangeiro (foreigner) · eo eksterterano (life form of non-Earth origin) · ka უცხოპლანეტელი (life form of non-Earth origin) · enm alien (person, etc. from outside) · da udlænding (foreigner) · scn alienu (life form of non-Earth origin) · cs cizinec (person, etc. from outside) · be чужапланеця́нка (life form of non-Earth origin) · sh туђи́нац (foreigner) · id orang asing (person, etc. from outside) · ro extraterestră (life form of non-Earth origin) · sl nezemljan (life form of non-Earth origin) · fi avaruusolento (life form of non-Earth origin) · et võõramaalane (foreigner) · fi alien (life form of non-Earth origin) · be чужапланеця́нін (life form of non-Earth origin) · scn stratirrestri (life form of non-Earth origin) · mi tautangata (foreigner) · pl obcy (life form of non-Earth origin) · ar غَرِيبَة (person, etc. from outside) · ca foraster (person, etc. from outside) · gd coigreach (person, etc. from outside) · mk ту́ѓинец (person, etc. from outside) · scn stranu (person, etc. from outside) · sh tuđínac (foreigner) · he חוּצָן (life form of non-Earth origin) · ru иноро́дец (foreigner)
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.