enemy alien

American  

[en-uh-mee ey-lee-uhn, eyl-yuhn] / ˈɛn ə mi ˈeɪ li ən, ˈeɪl yən /

noun

1. a person residing in a country at war with the country of which they are a citizen.

---

Etymology

Origin of enemy alien

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Picasso — who had not previously sought citizenship — may have been motivated by fears of an imminent Spanish-German alliance, which would have classified him as an enemy alien.

From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2023

It is the story of how a small act of courage helped turn an "enemy alien" into an American hero.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2017

The British were very lenient towards him, only imprisoning him as an enemy alien for the duration of the war.

From Time • Feb. 8, 2016

On arrival, he was arrested, interned as an enemy alien and shipped to Douglas, to be housed in Camp P in Hutchinson Square.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2013

One thing is certain and that is that none of the delegates present were opposed to this enemy alien deportation, or if they were they didn't or couldn't make themselves heard above the thunderous approbation.

From The Story of The American Legion by Wheat, George Seay