The Opposite(Antonym) of “alien”
The antonyms of alien are native, citizen, and familiar. These words describe a person's relationship to a place or culture. Native and citizen refer to someone who belongs to a particular country, while familiar describes something that is well-known or easily recognized.
Definitions and Examples of native, citizen, familiar
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
A person born in a particular place or country.
Example
She is a native of Japan and speaks Japanese fluently.
Example
The tribe has lived on this land for generations and considers themselves native to this area.
A legally recognized member of a country or nation.
Example
He became a citizen of the United States after living there for five years.
Example
The government provides services and protection to all citizens of the country.
Well-known or easily recognized.
Example
The song was so popular that it became familiar to people all over the world.
Example
She was familiar with the city because she had visited many times before.
Key Differences: native vs citizen vs familiar
- 1Native refers to a person's place of birth or origin, while citizen refers to a person's legal status in a country.
- 2Familiar describes something that is well-known or easily recognized, while alien describes something that is unfamiliar or foreign.
- 3Citizen and native are complementary antonyms, while familiar is a gradable antonym.
Effective Usage of native, citizen, familiar
- 1Discuss Nationality: Use native and citizen to talk about a person's legal status and place of origin.
- 2Describe Unfamiliarity: Use alien to describe something that is unfamiliar or foreign.
- 3Express Recognition: Use familiar to describe something that is well-known or easily recognized.
Remember this!
The antonyms of alien have distinct meanings. Native refers to a person's place of birth or origin, while citizen refers to a person's legal status in a country. Familiar describes something that is well-known or easily recognized, while alien describes something that is unfamiliar or foreign. Use these words to discuss nationality, describe unfamiliarity, and express recognition.
