Alien — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈā-lē-ən/

Meaning & Definition of Alien

Alien (adjective)

  1. belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing, strange
  2. relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government, foreign
  3. exotic

Alien (noun)

  1. extraterrestrial
  2. an immigrant who has not been granted citizenship and is still a subject or citizen of a foreign country; broadly, a foreign-born resident
  3. a person who is not of a particular group or place

Alien (verb)

  1. alienate, estrange
  2. to transfer the title of (property)

Alien (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own

    "they were careful to learn of any alien business customs before trying to expand overseas"

    similar: foreign, nonnative
    related: imported, introduced, naturalized, transplanted, external, international, multiculti, multicultural, multilateral, multinational, foreign-born, nonindigenous, distant, far-off, overseas, remote, bizarre, exotic, outlandish, strange
    opposite: domestic, native
    near: endemic, local, aboriginal, indigenous

  2. not being a vital part of or belonging to something

    "it's completely alien to her nature to wish evil of anyone"

    similar: accidental, adventitious, external, extraneous, extrinsic, foreign, supervenient
    related: exterior, outside, immaterial, inapplicable, insignificant, irrelevant, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary
    opposite: inherent, innate, intrinsic
    near: congenital, deep-seated, inborn, inbred, inside, interior, internal, basic, essential, necessary

Alien (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring

    "such angry outbursts will rapidly alien any friends you might possibly have left"

    similar: alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour
    related: antagonize, embitter, envenom, aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, break up, dissociate, disunite, divide, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke, disappoint, disenchant, disillusion, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, vex
    opposite: reconcile
    near: endear, ingratiate, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

  2. to give over the legal possession or ownership of

    "the couple plans to alien the adjoining house lot to their eldest son"

    similar: alienate, assign, cede, convey, deed, make over, transfer, dispose of
    related: bequeath, hand down, leave, pass (down), will, bestow, commend, commit, confer, contribute, deliver, donate, grant, hand over, move, pass, present, release, relinquish, surrender, transmit, turn in, turn over, vest, yield, consign, entrust, trust, lease, lend, let (chiefly British), loan, rent
    near: expropriate

Alien (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in nonresident

    similar: nonresident, foreigner, nonnative, outlander, outsider, stranger, outcast, pariah, drifter, transient, wanderer
    opposite: native, buddy, chum, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, pal, acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, mate, partner, peer, citizen, habitant, inhabitant, resident

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Alien

The most common words with a similar meaning to Alien:

foreign, nonnative, accidental, adventitious, external, extraneous, extrinsic, supervenient, alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, sour, assign, cede, convey, deed, make over, transfer, dispose of, nonresident, foreigner, outlander, outsider, stranger, outcast, pariah, drifter, transient, wanderer

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Alien

Words with the opposite meaning of Alien:

domestic, native, inherent, innate, intrinsic, reconcile, buddy, chum, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, pal, acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, mate, partner, peer, citizen, habitant, inhabitant, resident

Related Words for Alien

imported, introduced, naturalized, transplanted, international, multiculti, multicultural, multilateral, multinational, foreign-born, nonindigenous, distant, far-off, overseas, remote, bizarre, exotic, outlandish, strange, exterior, outside, immaterial, inapplicable, insignificant, irrelevant, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, antagonize, embitter

Near Antonyms of Alien

endemic, local, aboriginal, indigenous, congenital, deep-seated, inborn, inbred, inside, interior, internal, basic, essential, necessary, endear, ingratiate, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, expropriate

Word Forms of Alien

Inflections: aliens, aliened, aliening

Derived words: alienly (adverb), alienness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Alien

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") else:1

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Alien

anti-alien, nonresident alien

Frequently Asked Questions about Alien

What does "Alien" mean?

"Alien" means belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing, strange. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing, strange. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Alien"?

Other words for "Alien" include foreign, nonnative, accidental, adventitious, external, extraneous, extrinsic and supervenient. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Alien" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Alien"?

There are 132 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Alien". Common alternatives include foreign, nonnative, accidental, adventitious, external, extraneous, extrinsic, supervenient, alienate and disaffect.

What is the opposite of "Alien"?

Antonyms of "Alien" include domestic, native, inherent, innate, intrinsic, reconcile, buddy and chum. Near antonyms include endemic, local, aboriginal and indigenous.

How do you use "Alien" in a sentence?

Examples of "Alien" in a sentence: "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"; "such angry outbursts will rapidly alien any friends you might possibly have left".

Is "Alien" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Alien" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Alien"?

"Alien" is pronounced /ˈā-lē-ən/.

What is the origin of the word "Alien"?

"Alien" comes from 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") else:1. First known use: 14th century.