earthling

American  

[urth-ling] / ˈɜrθ lɪŋ /

noun

1. an inhabitant of earth; mortal.

2. worldling.

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earthling British  

/ ˈɜːθlɪŋ /

noun

1. (esp in poetry or science fiction) an inhabitant of the earth; human being

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Etymology

Origin of earthling

First recorded in 1585–95; earth + -ling ¹

Explanation

An earthling is someone who lives on the planet Earth. In science fiction books and movies, people are called earthlings to distinguish them from aliens. E.T. was definitely not an earthling. You're most likely to come across the word earthling in fiction, since we more often refer to ourselves as "people" or "humans," assuming that we are all from Earth. In science fiction, though, some characters come from other planets or galaxies and aren't actually earthlings. Earthling has an Old English root, yrþling, or "plowman," and in 1949 the author Robert Heinlein first used earthling in a science fiction context.

Example Sentences

He chronicles his total confusion about the customs and rituals of his earthling “host family.”

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2022

The value of his Tesla shares make him the richest man in the world, and even when he wasn’t the richest earthling, he wasn’t known as someone who was especially welcoming to criticism.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2022

But with little conclusive evidence expected to confirm any intergalactic visitations, it remains to be seen whether any earthling minds will change.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2021

So if we're identifying as an earthling, they might call it something else.

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2020

Then the strange little dude jerks himself around and he catches sight of me and he lifts a crutch and points it up at my heart and he goes, "Identify yourself, earthling."

From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick