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.

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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

And our great President with enlightened wisdom has eased the enemy alien regulations so as to favour those born in the Dual Monarchy.

From Face to Face with Kaiserism by Gerard, James W. (James Watson)