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

The Iranian drone ship in the Persian Gulf shows Tehran has the capability to launch drones, but the vessel is located thousands of miles away from the U.S. coast, well out of range of even a long-range drone. —Brad Dress, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024

For the first year of those sanctions, Iranian leaders exhibited remarkable restraint, only to pivot dramatically and launch a series of counterattacks, including strikes on Persian Gulf shipping and Saudi oil facilities. —Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024

The dining scene impresses with its variety — Mekong serves authentic dishes from three Asian countries while The Beach House offers Mediterranean flavors with front-row views of the Persian Gulf. —Joe Niehaus, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024

The Modern Persian Cat Isn’t All That Persian The Persian cat’s name evokes visions of grandeur and a rich heritage linked to Persia (modern-day Iran), but today’s Persian is anything but Persian in its origins. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

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

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