Iberian

[ ahy-beer-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Iberia in SW Europe, its inhabitants, or their language.
2. of or relating to ancient Iberia in the Caucasus or its inhabitants.

noun

1. one of the ancient inhabitants of Iberia in Europe, from whom the Basques are supposed to be descended.
2. the language of the ancient Iberians of SW Europe, not known to be related to any other language.
3. one of the ancient inhabitants of Iberia in Asia.

Iberian

/ aɪˈbɪərɪən /

noun

1. a member of a group of ancient Caucasoid peoples who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula in preclassical and classical times See also Celtiberian
2. a native or inhabitant of the Iberian Peninsula; a Spaniard or Portuguese
3. a native or inhabitant of ancient Iberia in the Caucasus

adjective

1. denoting, or relating to the pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula or of Caucasian Iberia
2. of or relating to the Iberian Peninsula, its inhabitants, or any of their languages

Other Words From

• trans-I·beri·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Iberian¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; Iberi(a) + -an

Example Sentences

On Thursday the IUCN, which categorises species according to the level of risk they face in a "red list", bumped the Iberian lynx from "endangered" to "vulnerable" after a significant surge in numbers.

From BBC

In 2001, there were only 62 mature Iberian lynx — medium-sized, mottled brown cats with characteristic pointed ears and a pair of beard-like tufts of facial hair — on the Iberian Peninsula.

From Seattle Times

Today, the largest ethnic group in Israel is Mizrahi Jews, with origins in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Iberian peninsula.

From Seattle Times

It was the fifth such sinking in waters off the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa in recent years.

From New York Times

Among those islands was one off the coast of Georgia, where the descendants of those Iberian black pigs have been roaming for up to 500 years.

From Salon