Pahlavi

¹ American  

[pah-luh-vee] / ˈpɑ ləˌvi /

noun

1. the Indo-European, Iranian language of the Zoroastrian literature of the 3rd to the 10th centuries.

2. the script used in writing this language, derived from the Aramaic alphabet.

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Pahlavi ² American  

[pah-luh-vee] / ˈpɑ ləˌvi /

Or Pahlevi

noun

• Pahlavis
  plural

1. Muhammad Riza (or Reza) 1919–80, shah of Iran 1941–79; in exile after 1979 (son of Riza Shah Pahlavi).

2. Riza (or Reza) Shah, 1877–1944, shah of Iran 1925–41.

3. (lowercase) a former gold coin of Iran, equal to 20 rials.

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Pahlavi ¹ British  

/ ˈpɑːləvɪ /

noun

1. Mohammed Reza (ˈriːzə). 1919–80, shah of Iran (1941–79); forced into exile (1979) during civil unrest following which an Islamic republic was established led by the Ayatollah Khomeini

2. his father, Reza. 1877–1944, shah of Iran (1925–41). Originally an army officer, he gained power by a coup d'état (1921) and was chosen shah by the National Assembly. He reorganized the army and did much to modernize Iran

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Pahlavi ² British  

/ ˈpɑːləvɪ /

noun

1. the Middle Persian language, esp as used in classical Zoroastrian and Manichean literature

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Pahlavis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Pahlavi

First recorded in 1765–75, Pahlavi is from the Persian word Pahlavī Parthian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pahlavi Pahlavis

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, seized on the protests’ momentum and urged Iranians to pour onto the streets on Jan. 8-9.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

Her father and mother often argue about Pahlavi, she adds.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last shah of Iran and pretender to the throne, was a scheduled speaker, and the event was packed with Iranian monarchists.

From Slate ● Mar. 27, 2026

Hanging on the wall is a large portrait of Iran's last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was ousted in the Islamic revolution and died in exile.

From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026

The overwhelming dislike for the Pahlavi dynasty gave birth to the Iranian Revolution, and by then my parents were also fed up with the regime's inhumane tactics.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Under the Pahlavis, Iran was a reliable partner for both.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026

Three midlevel Iranian government officials, reached over the past week to discuss other issues, brought up unprompted that they privately longed for the return of the Pahlavis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026

It was used by every dynasty for 800 years, including the Safavids, Qajars and Pahlavis.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 17, 2015

Egypt, Morocco and Mexico provided temporary havens, but as the Pahlavis were forced to move on, they increasingly found themselves in a dog-eat-Shah world.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Pahlavis have prior experience with exile, of course.

From Time Magazine Archive