off-worlder

See also: offworlder and off worlder

English

WOTD – 21 October 2023

Etymology

From off-world (adjective) +‎ -er (suffix denoting a person characterized by [the adjective to which the suffix is attached]).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɒfˈwɜːldə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔfˈwɜɹldəɹ/, /ˈɑf-/
• Hyphenation: off-world‧er

Noun

off-worlder (plural off-worlders)

1. (fantasy, science fiction) One who is not from the local world (whether a dimension, plane, planet, or universe); an alien.
   • 1955, Andre Norton [pseudonym; Alice Mary Norton], “Classic move to Disaster”, in Star Guard, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, page 58:

     So? On your world you do as custom rules. Customs are different here, off-worlder.

   • 1974, Ursula K[roeber] Le Guin, chapter 3, in The Dispossessed, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, published July 1975, →ISBN, page 63:

     The distinguished scientist, winner of the Seo Oren Prize for service to all nations through science, has accepted a professorship at Ieu Eun University, an honor never before accorded to an off-worlder.

   • 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2, Redwood City, Calif.: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Korlus:

     TRAVEL ADVISORY: Korlus ranks second in murder per capita in the Terminus Systems and first in offworlder murder. Civilian traffic is encouraged to employ security professionals when visiting.

Alternative forms

• offworlder
• off worlder (rare)

Related terms

• worlder

Translations

one who is not from the local world — see also alien

• Finnish: ulkoplaneettalainen
• Macedonian: вонзе́мјанин m (vonzémjanin)