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 war has cast a shadow on Persian Gulf nations that have long presented themselves as paragons of stability in a volatile region, mostly unaffected by the conflicts raging in the wider Middle East. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

The spike extended an eight-month run of annual gains due to oil supply disruptions at the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, adding to the sustained pressure on airline operating costs. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

Qeshm Island Qeshm Island, off Iran's southern coast, is the largest island in the Persian Gulf. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

The Persian Gulf also supplied more than 40% of Europe’s jet fuel and diesel imports. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Nov. 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