Alien is a word with several meanings. It can refer to something or someone that does not belongto be accepted as part of a place, group, or situation somewhere, something from another country or place, or a life form from beyond Earth. As a verb, it also means to transferto move something, especially rights or possessions, to someone else property or ownershipthe legal right to possess and control something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈeɪliən/
Easy pronunciation: AY-lee-ən (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: AY.
Noun meaning a person from a foreign country; not the extraterrestrial sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Alien Meaning
someone from another country
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
Example: The country tightened its rules for aliens living and working there.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- foreigner — Direct match for a person from another country.
- noncitizen — Works in legal or official contexts for someone who is not a citizen.
- outlander — Possible synonym, but it sounds literary or old-fashioned.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Alien
Meaning 2
a being from outer space
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a form of life assumed to exist outside the Earth or its atmosphere
Example: Scientists searched for signs of alien life on the planet.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- extraterrestrial — Standard synonym for life from outside Earth.
- extraterrestrial being — A fuller phrase for a being from space.
Meaning 3
not natural or not part of something's true nature
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
Example: The idea seemed alien to her way of thinking.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- foreign — Works when something is outside the nature or character of a thing.
Meaning 4
from another place; unfamiliar or exotic
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
Example: The market was full of alien customs and foods.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- exotic — Works for things that seem from another place or feel unfamiliar.
- foreign — Can fit some contexts, but it is broader and less specific than alien here.
Meaning 5
to transfer property or ownership
Part of speech: verb
Definition: transfer property or ownership
Example: The old law allowed land to be aliened to another family.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- alienate — The listed verbal synonym, though this sense is rare and legal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Alien Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- foreigner
- noncitizen
a being from outer space
- extraterrestrial
- extraterrestrial being
not natural or not part of something's true nature
- foreign
from another place; unfamiliar or exotic
- exotic
- foreign
to transfer property or ownership
- alienate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Mixing up alien as a noun meaning 'foreign national' with alien as an adjective meaning 'strange' or 'from another place'.
- Using alien to mean 'extraterrestrial' in every context; the word can also mean foreign, unfamiliar, or legally transferred property.
- Assuming alienate is the everyday synonym of alien; it is a different verb with a related but separate meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common meaning of alien?
In everyday English, alien most often means a person from another country, though it can also mean something strange, unfamiliar, or from outer space.
Is alien the same as extraterrestrial?
Only in the space-related sense. Alien can mean a being from outer space, but it also has several other meanings.
What is the verb alien used for?
As a verb, alien means to transfer property or ownership, usually in a legal or formal context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
