Iranian

American  

[ih-rey-nee-uhn, ih-rah-, ahy-rey-] / ɪˈreɪ ni ən, ɪˈrɑ-, aɪˈreɪ- /

Also Irani

adjective

1. of or relating to Iran, its inhabitants, or their language.

2. of or relating to the Iranian languages.

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noun

1. a subbranch of the Indo-European family of languages, including especially Persian, Pashto, Avestan, and Kurdish.

2. an inhabitant of Iran; Persian.

Iranian British  

/ ɪˈreɪnɪən /

noun

1. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Iran

2. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, divided into West Iranian (including Old Persian, Pahlavi, modern Persian, Kurdish, Baluchi, and Tajik) and East Iranian (including Avestan, Sogdian, Pashto, and Ossetic)

3. Also: Persian.   Farsi.  the modern Persian language

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adjective

1. relating to, denoting, or characteristic of Iran, its inhabitants, or their language; Persian

2. belonging to or relating to the Iranian branch of Indo-European

Other Word Forms

• anti-Iranian adjective
• pro-Iranian adjective
• pseudo-Iranian adjective
• trans-Iranian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Iranian

First recorded in 1835–45; Iran + -ian

Example Sentences

Another Chinese worker, a 48-year-old on a ship moving Iranian goods to China, described slipping across the strait in late March after being stuck for three weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Iranian State TV said a reward would be given to those who found the downed crew member.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

“Amen,” the predominantly Iranian American congregation responded in unison.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

If the missing American is found by Iranian forces, the implications could be profound.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

My parents knew the dating pool was already small enough and that the only way we'd connect with an Iranian guy was if he'd been raised in America like us.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi