offworlder n.

a person or being from another planet; an alien

Aliens

  • 1957 ‘A. Norton’ Star Born 187 Andre Norton

    It might be easy, now that he had established mental contact with this off-worlder, for the other to pick up a thought as vivid as that.

  • 1960 H. Harrison Deathworld in Astounding Science Fiction Feb. 131/2 Harry Harrison

    You are from off-world, that I know. No junkman would have lifted a finger to save my life. You are the first off-worlder my people have ever known and for that you are doubly welcome.

  • 1962 C. Smith Ballad of Lost C'mell in T. Shippey Oxford Book of Science Fiction (1992) 319

    Maybe the offworlder tried.

  • 1966 J. Baxter Off-Worlders (title)

    The Off-Worlders.

  • 1967 L. Niven in If Mar. 81/2 Larry Niven

    She looked startled. ‘Oh! You're an offworlder… Look, you can’t go around town with an offworldder’s [sic] wallet.’

  • 1974 U. K. Le Guin Dispossessed (1975) i.2 Ursula K. Le Guin

    The aliens, the off-worlders, stayed hiding in their ship.

  • 1976 C. Holland Floating Worlds (1977) 161 Cecelia Holland bibliography

    She worked in the library, writing out a master contract to allow off-worlders to trade in Matuko.

  • 1978 V. N. McIntyre Dreamsnake (1979) ii. 46 Vonda N. McIntyre

    It was the place the offworlders sometimes landed.

  • 1982 M. Z. Bradley Winds of Darkover 116 Marion Zimmer Bradley bibliography

    In the Dry towns any stranger walked with his life in his hands. An off-worlder could not have maintained safety for a single day.

  • 1984 M. Z. Bradley World Wreckers 42 Marion Zimmer Bradley bibliography

    Forgive me, I have lived long among offworlders and I keep my barriers up without realizing it.

  • 1988 A. C. Clarke 2061: Odyssey Three 162 Arthur C. Clarke

    Too clannish—not really friendly to offworlders.

  • 1992 P. David Imzadi xiii. 97 Peter David bibliography

    Weddings are always done out loud, in consideration of any offworlders who might be in the audience.

  • 2001 Locus June 35/2

    The colonists have legends of ships arriving, and offworlders turn up eventually.

  • 2004 P. F. Hamilton Pandora's Star iv. 102 Peter F. Hamilton

    He was impressed, for the bag was large and obviously heavy. But despite the clumsy way she carried it, she could lift it easily. She was strong. All offworlders were strong, he knew that.

Research requirements

antedating 1957
Earliest cite

A. Norton 'Star Born'
Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1967 cite from Larry Niven's "Flatlander".
Mike Christie submitted a cite from a 1984 reprint of Andre Norton's "Star Born"; we would like to check the 1957 first edition.
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a reprint of Frank Herbert's "Dune"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1965 first magazine appearance.
Douglas Winston submitted a cite from a reprint of Harry Harrison's "Deathworld"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1960 first magazine appearance.

Added to the OED in March 2004 with an earliest date of 1957.

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.