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Synonyms

Martian

American  
[mahr-shuhn] / ˈmɑr ʃən /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or like the planet Mars or its hypothetical inhabitants.


noun

  • Martians
    plural
  1. a supposed inhabitant of the planet Mars.

    The science-fiction novel was about the invasion of our planet by Martians.

Martian British  
/ ˈmɑːʃən /

adjective

  1. of, occurring on, or relating to the planet Mars

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an inhabitant of Mars, esp in science fiction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of Martian

1350–1400; Middle English marcien < Latin Mārti ( us ) of, belonging to Mars ( see March) + -an

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

MMX is designed to study both Martian moons in detail and return samples from Phobos to Earth.

From Science Daily Aug. 26, 2026

One theory for the origin of the Martian moons -- the "giant impact" hypothesis -- is that they formed after a celestial body collided with Mars.

From Barron's Aug. 16, 2026

"Imagine you're a Martian, you're just about to invade Earth, you're hiding in the moon... and suddenly you meet the martial music of the bagpipe."

From BBC Jul. 30, 2026

If indigenous Martian life exists, even as microscopic organisms, introducing Earth-based life could destroy it before it is ever fully understood.

From Science Daily Jul. 17, 2026

But the advantage of the Wolf Trap was that it laid no requirements on what the Martian microbes must do with their food.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Spotted in July 2024, the reddish mudstone contains organic compounds and other minerals that could have supported bygone microbial Martians.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 23, 2026

Quirk was always a few covers away: The Day The Martians Landed, screamed one headline, with two alien spaceships looming dramatically; or ESP: Fact Or Fiction, as part of a series of "eternal controversies".

From BBC Dec. 27, 2023

As the Martians begin to emerge from a large meteorite, one character asks, “What are we going to say to them?”

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 30, 2023

Belief in Martians sprang in large part from a wealthy amateur astronomer, Percival Lowell, who built the observatory that still bears his name.

From Scientific American Aug. 25, 2023

In the background, church bells toll, warning the public to evacuate because the Martians are coming.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

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