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 current situation in and around the Persian Gulf reinforces that tension because the threats facing Saudi Arabia are increasingly difficult to separate into discrete categories. — John Calabrese, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

For instance, did the Soviets invade Afghanistan out of (a) fear of Muslim insurgency, (b) Iran-cognizant Realpolitik or (c) lust for a port on the Persian Gulf? — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

By contrast, Saudi Arabia is poised to export oil from its Red Sea terminal at Yanbu, now that the East-West Pipeline is back, as well as from its Persian Gulf ports. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Iran has severely disrupted the strait during the conflict, restricting oil and gas exports out of the Persian Gulf. — Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026

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