earthling

American

[urth-ling] / ˈɜrθ lɪŋ /

noun

an inhabitant of earth; mortal.
worldling.

earthling British

/ ˈɜːθlɪŋ /

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of earthling

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

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.

In return, the boy wants little to do with her or any other earthling.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025

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

From New York Times • Aug. 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

But Ino saw him—Ino, Kadmos’ daughter, slim-legged, lovely, once an earthling girl, now in the seas a nereid, Leukothea.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023