anti-extraterrestrial
|an-ti-ex-tra-ter-res-tri-al|
/ˌæntiˌɛkstrətəˈrɛstriəl/
against extraterrestrials
Etymology
'anti-extraterrestrial' originates from Modern English, combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') with 'extraterrestrial' (from Latin elements 'extra-' meaning 'outside' and 'terrestris' meaning 'of the earth').
'anti-' (Greek) + 'extraterrestrial' (from Late Latin/Modern Latin 'extraterrestris' composed of 'extra-' + 'terrestris') entered English as 'extraterrestrial', and the descriptive/compound form 'anti-extraterrestrial' developed later in Modern English by adding 'anti-' to express opposition.
Originally the components literally signified 'against that which is outside the earth' (i.e., against beings or things beyond Earth); over time the compound came to mean specifically 'hostile to or opposed to extraterrestrial beings or the idea of their existence'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or group that is hostile to or opposes extraterrestrials or the idea of extraterrestrial contact (nominalization of the adjective).
Anti-extraterrestrials warned that attempting contact could endanger humanity.
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Adjective 1
hostile toward or actively opposed to extraterrestrial beings or contact with them.
The movement promoted an explicitly anti-extraterrestrial policy, opposing any attempts at establishing contact.
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Adjective 2
skeptical of or opposed to the belief in extraterrestrial life or the idea that extraterrestrials are present or influential.
Her views were described as anti-extraterrestrial, questioning reports of UFO encounters and alien visitation.
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Last updated: 2025/10/15 02:04