Persian

noun

Per·​sian ˈpər-zhən How to pronounce Persian (audio)
 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 adjective

Examples of Persian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Chancery plans to open to guests in early September, its Persian Gulf owners having converted the Brutalist landmark, designed by Eero Saarinen, into a Rosewood luxury hotel, with junior suites starting at 1,400 pounds (nearly $1,900) a night. Mark Landler, New York Times, 7 June 2025 Imagine an aircraft carrier group besieged by a thousand drones in the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea. Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025 The Tomahawk made its battlefield debut in the early hours of the 1991 Persian Gulf War in Iraq and was deployed earlier this year to attack Houthi targets in Yemen. Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025 And while one aircraft carrier, the USS Truman, is now in the Mediterranean serving Washington’s operations in Europe, another, the USS Nimitz, is traveling from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, possibly on its way to the Persian Gulf. Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for Persian

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Persian was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Persian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Persian. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

Persian

noun
Per·​sian ˈpər-zhən How to pronounce Persian (audio)
1
: a native or inhabitant of ancient Persia or modern Iran
2
: the language of the Persians
Persian adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Persian

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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