Aryan

1 of 2

adjective

Ary·​an ˈa-rē-ən 

ˈer-ē-;

ˈär-yən 

1

: indo-european

2

a

: of or relating to a hypothetical ethnic type illustrated by or descended from early speakers of Indo-European languages

b

: nordic

c

—used in Nazism to designate a supposed master race of non-Jewish Caucasians usually having Nordic features

3

: of or relating to Indo-Iranian or its speakers

Aryan

2 of 2

noun

1

: indo-european

2

a

: nordic

b

: gentile

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Sanskrit ārya noble, belonging to an ancient people of northern India speaking an Indo-European dialect

First Known Use

Adjective

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Aryan

• Indo-Aryan

• Indo-Aryan

Kids Definition

Aryan

noun

Ary·​an

ˈar-ē-ən,

ˈer-,

ˈär-yən

1

: indo-european sense 2

2

: a member of the subgroup of Indo-European speakers ancestral to speakers of Indo-Aryan and Iranian languages

Aryan adjective