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

This Persian New Year event will include a lesson on the cultural traditions related to the holiday, as well as Person treats and live music from Dornob. 6 to 7 p.m. San Carlos Library, 7265 Jackson Drive, San Diego. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

The joint drills, called the Maritime Security Belt 2025, took place in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all crude oil traded worldwide passes. —Graham Underwood, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2025

The program and application guide is available in Armenian, Chinese, English, Persian, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025

In 1990, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait was enough to spark an American incursion in the Persian Gulf. —Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 7 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