Persian

American  

[pur-zhuhn, -shuhn] / ˈpɜr ʒən, -ʃən /

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient and recent Persia (now Iran), its people, or their language.

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noun

1. a member of the native peoples of Iran, descended in part from the ancient Iranians.

2. a citizen of ancient Persia.

3. an Iranian language, the principal language of Iran and western Afghanistan, in its historical and modern forms. Pers, Pers.

4. Architecture. a figure of a man used as a column.

5. Persians. Persian blinds.

Persian British  

/ ˈpɜːʃən /

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Persia or modern Iran, their inhabitants, or their languages

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noun

1. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of modern Iran; an Iranian

2. a member of an Indo-European people of West Iranian speech who established a great empire in SW Asia in the 6th century _bc

3. the language of Iran or Persia in any of its ancient or modern forms, belonging to the West Iranian branch of the Indo-European family See also Avestan Old Persian Pahlavi 2 Farsi

Other Word Forms

• pre-Persian adjective
• pseudo-Persian adjective
• trans-Persian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Persian

First recorded in 1325–75; Persi(a) + -an; replacing Middle English Persien, from Middle French; replacing Old English Persisc ( -ish ¹ )

Example Sentences

Global oil markets have been concerned about potential disruptions in the flow of oil through the crucial maritime passage, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

From MarketWatch

It is one of several Persian‑language outlets critical of Iran's clerical leadership operating from abroad, including the London‑based station Manoto.

From Barron's

Beyond China, Carney has tried to create stronger ties with Europe and Persian Gulf states.

From The Wall Street Journal

Persians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Baha’is and those of every background were entitled to live in peace.

From Salon

The protests spread nationwide, reaching as far as the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm, a free-trade zone that has seldom seen any kind of political mobilization.

From The Wall Street Journal