extraterrestrial

Everyday

1. Coming from or existing outside the Earth, in space, as in «extraterrestrial rocks». tree →
2. (noun) A living being from another planet, an alien; often shortened to «ET». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about space, meteorites are extraterrestrial rocks, and scientists search for extraterrestrial life, such as microbes on Mars, but none has been found yet. In stories and films like «E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial», extraterrestrials visit Earth. It is good to say clearly: aliens are imagined; no one has proved they exist.

Examples

• The meteorite in the museum is extraterrestrial. tree →
• Scientists are looking for signs of extraterrestrial life. tree →
• In the film, a friendly extraterrestrial wants to go home. tree →
• No one has ever found proof of extraterrestrials. tree →
• We wrote stories about an extraterrestrial visiting our school. tree →
• Telescopes listen for extraterrestrial radio signals. tree →

Note

«Extra-» means «outside» + «terrestrial» (of the Earth). Opposite: «terrestrial». Can be written with or without a hyphen. Takes «an»: «an extraterrestrial».