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

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of Iranian

First recorded in 1835–45; Iran + -ian

Example Sentences

The U.S. shot down three of the drones and conducted what they said were “self-defense strikes” on Iranian military ground control stations on Qeshm Island.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Instead, over the next two months, fuel prices roughly doubled because of the Iranian conflict, said Arrington, and his farm has been forced to buy fuel at higher prices after using up its stored inventory.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

"So when something like this happens it's a signal from the Iranian authorities to the British government."

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Oil company stocks are rising on Monday, after reports the Iranian negotiators suspended talks to end the conflict with the U.S. and as investors digested the lack of progress.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Every time I look at it, I feel like a proud Iranian.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi