Persian

noun

Per·​sian ˈpər-zhən 

 especially British  -shən

1

: one of the people of Persia: such as

a

: one of the ancient Iranians who under Cyrus and his successors founded an empire in southwest Asia

b

: a member of one of the peoples forming the modern Iranian nationality

2

a

: any of several Iranian languages dominant in Persia at different periods

b

: the modern language of Iran and western Afghanistan see Indo-European Languages Table

3

: a thin soft silk formerly used especially for linings

4

: persian cat

Persian adjective

Examples of Persian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her military career spans deployments in the Pacific and Persian Gulf as a helicopter pilot, command of a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, and a Bronze Star award. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Spring cleaning has roots in Nowruz, or Persian New Year, which lands on the first day of the season. —Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025

At my company, our communities include an Air Force base, as well as people who are first-generation Mexican, Chinese, Persian, Armenian, Lebanese and more. —Matthew Phillips, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

For him, shepherds and stables provide a nicely reassuring pastoral setting, but Persian Magi are an unwelcome detail—too foreign, too unruly. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Persian

• Middle Persian
• Old Persian
• Persian cat
• Persian lamb

Rhymes for Persian

• version
• animadversion
• bioconversion
• cardioversion
• interconversion
• seroconversion
• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• dispersion
• diversion
• eversion

Kids Definition

Persian

noun

Per·​sian ˈpər-zhən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of ancient Persia or modern Iran

2

: the language of the Persians

Persian adjective