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

“I am an earthling — after that I’m galactic and then I’m universal,” Alejandro Jodorowsky tells me in Spanish from his home in Paris during a recent video call.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

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

Could any earthling truly understand life on Mars and pass judgment on someone living there?

From Slate • Jul. 15, 2020

Freak goes, "Beware the Force, earthling," and he stands up in the window and I can see he's got a Darth Vader costume on, except he's not wearing the mask part.

From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick