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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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is to arrive in Islamabad late Friday, Iranian state media and an official source in Pakistan said.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

On Thursday, the military said U.S. forces had boarded a ship known as the Majestic X, which was full of Iranian oil and sailing in the Indian Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

A day earlier, Iran's navy said it had seized two cargo ships in the strait and taken them to the country's coast after reports that three vessels came under fire from Iranian forces.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

On Wednesday an Iranian government spokesperson said the team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in the World Cup.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Not everyone fully understands the true power of ABBA, but you'll be hard-pressed to find an Iranian who doesn't love their entire catalog of music.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.