What does lunarian mean?
A lunarian is a hypothetical inhabitant of the Moon. The word is associated primarily with science fiction, speculative accounts of lunar exploration, and older discussions of whether the Moon might contain inhabitants of its own. In narrative contexts, a lunarian may be an indigenous, intelligent, or adapted lunar being rather than an ordinary human colonist. The term is not a standard designation for an astronaut or a scientist who studies lunar geology. Although it is grammatically ordinary, “lunarian” is uncommon in everyday speech and formal scientific writing. It remains vivid and useful when an author wants to name a resident of the Moon, especially when distinguishing that being from human visitors. The related adjective “lunar” is far more widely used for anything connected with Earth’s natural satellite.
nounA hypothetical inhabitant of the Moon. The term is chiefly used in science fiction and speculative discussions about possible lunar settlement.
- An inhabitant of the Moon, especially in science fiction or as a hypothetical being.
"The illustrator depicted a lunarian surveying the lunar landscape from a domed observatory."
"A science-fiction novel describes how the first lunarian greeted the crew of an Earthbound spacecraft."
"The documentary discussed how lunar temperatures would make life difficult for any lunarian."
The plural is used when referring to hypothetical or fictional inhabitants of the Moon.
"The first moon explorers cautiously encountered unknown lunarians near the southern polar region."
Before humans reached the Moon, the word “lunarian” gave a name to the imagined people who might already live there.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of lunarian
The word derives from Latin luna, meaning “the Moon,” and ultimately from an earlier form of the same word associated with the Moon and lunar cycles. The English adjective lunar was formed from this root, and the suffix -ian was added to create “lunarian” by analogy with other forms denoting inhabitants or adherents. The result was used for imagined inhabitants of the Moon, particularly in early science fiction and astronomical speculation. Its relatives include lunar, lunacy, and lunatic, all of which reflect the same Latin root.
How lunarian is actually used
This is a rare, literary or speculative term. In serious scientific discussion, “lunar inhabitant” is normally clearer, while “selenite” is chiefly encountered in older or fictional usage.