Iberian

American  

[ahy-beer-ee-uhn] / aɪˈbɪər i ən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Iberia in SW Europe, its inhabitants, or their language.

2. of or relating to ancient Iberia in the Caucasus or its inhabitants.

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noun

1. one of the ancient inhabitants of Iberia in Europe, from whom the Basques are supposed to be descended.

2. the language of the ancient Iberians of SW Europe, not known to be related to any other language.

3. one of the ancient inhabitants of Iberia in Asia.

Iberian British  

/ aɪˈbɪərɪən /

noun

1. a member of a group of ancient Caucasoid peoples who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula in preclassical and classical times See also Celtiberian

2. a native or inhabitant of the Iberian Peninsula; a Spaniard or Portuguese

3. a native or inhabitant of ancient Iberia in the Caucasus

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adjective

1. denoting, or relating to the pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula or of Caucasian Iberia

2. of or relating to the Iberian Peninsula, its inhabitants, or any of their languages

Other Word Forms

• trans-Iberian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Iberian

First recorded in 1595–1605; Iberi(a) + -an

Example Sentences

The Iberian lynx is one of the world's rarest wildcats and was on the brink of extinction in the early 2000s, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

But as Rubio said, cowboy lineage can be traced to the Iberian Peninsula — as far back as the late medieval era, before Spain as a nation even existed.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

Voting has been postponed in areas worst-hit by flooding from Storm Leonardo, which triggered mass evacuations in the Iberian Peninsula.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the length, intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as the floods and heatwaves that have struck the Iberian Peninsula in recent years.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Remember, Pieret doesn’t even know what he’s stolen—he thinks the heads are Phoenician, not Iberian.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day