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What is the difference between foreigner and alien?

foreigner | alien |

Alien is a synonym of foreigner.



As nouns the difference between foreigner and alien

is that foreigner is a person from a foreign country while alien is a person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.

As an adjective alien is

pertaining to an alien.

As a verb alien is

to estrange; to alienate.

foreigner

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person from a foreign country.
  • A private job run by an employee at a trade factory rather than going through the business.

    • Synonyms

    * * * (l) *

    Related terms

    * foreign * furriner

    alien

    English

    Alternative forms

    * alyaunte

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.
  • A foreigner residing in a country.
  • * 1773 , William Blackstone, Commentaries on the laws of England: in four books, Volume 1 (Fifth Edition) , page 372
    • An alien born may purchase lands, or other estates: but not for his own use; for the king is thereupon entitled to them.
  • * 1831 , John Marshall, Cherokee Nation v. Georgia , U.S. Government
    • 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.
  • * 2004 , Wesley Campbell, Stephen Court, Be a hero: the battle for mercy and social justice , Destiny Image Publishers, page 74
    • Aliens are aliens because of persecution or war or hardship or famine.
  • Any life form of extraterrestrial origin.
  • One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged.
  • * Bible, Ephes. ii. 12
    • Aliens from the common wealth of Israel.

    Synonyms

    * * See also

    Related terms

    * alienage * space alien

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to an alien.
  • 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.
    • principles alien to our religion
  • * Wordsworth
    • An alien sound of melancholy.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To estrange; to alienate.
  • (legal) To transfer the ownership of something.

    • Alternative forms

    * aliene

    Anagrams

    * English adjectives ending in -en ----