Alien Meaning
/ˈeɪ.li.ən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.
nounA citizen or national of another sovereign state.
Sentence Examples
An Englishman is an alien in the United States.
It had an effect alien from the one intended.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The plant's unusual appearance made it look completely ____ to the local ecosystem.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The movie was about a friendly ____ who came to earth from Mars.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The plant's unusual appearance made it look completely ____ to the local ecosystem.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The movie was about a friendly ____ who came to earth from Mars.