Iranian

[ ih-rey-nee-uhn, ih-rah-, ahy-rey- ]

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

/ 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. AlsoPersianFarsi the modern Persian language

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 Words From

• an·ti-I·ra·ni·an adjective noun
• pro-I·ra·ni·an adjective noun
• pseu·do-I·ra·ni·an adjective noun
• trans-I·ra·ni·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Iranian¹

First recorded in 1835–45; Iran + -ian

Example Sentences

In the meantime, Mr. Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in July, a killing widely attributed to Israel.

From New York Times

Gulf leaders are also wary of relying too much on the U.S. to defend against any Iranian attack.

From Los Angeles Times

He was 31 at the time, an Iranian refugee who had been living in Turkey for two years.

From BBC

A spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary said the woman had been treated in hospital and returned to her family.

From BBC

Canada’s former justice minister has confirmed to the BBC he was the target of a recent Iranian assassination attempt that was foiled.

From BBC