noun
different race; alien race
Refers to a race or ethnic group different from one's own. Can be used in neutral or speculative contexts, but may carry a sense of otherness.
SF小説では、異人種との遭遇がよく描かれる。
Encounters with alien races are often depicted in science fiction novels.
外国人 is the common, neutral term for a foreign person, whereas 異人種 is more abstract and less personal, referring to the concept of a different race.
Compound of 異 (i, 'different') + 人種 (jinshu, 'race'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows standard Sino-Japanese word formation patterns.