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

Etihad Rail began this June by linking Abu Dhabi in the west, on the Persian Gulf, and Fujairah in the east, on the Gulf of Oman, in about an hour and 45 minutes. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

By contrast, the other oil-producing countries in the Persian Gulf are getting more oil through the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran’s efforts to scare away shipping with drone and missile attacks. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Before he was reelected, the United States was not at war with anyone, and oil moved freely through the Persian Gulf. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

In March, Saudi Arabia, because of the shipping restrictions in the Persian Gulf, began transporting its crude oil through a pipeline that stretches from the kingdom’s Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, on its western coast. — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 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