Persian

[ pur-zhuhn, -shuhn ]

adjective

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

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. Compare Old Persian, Pahlavi, Farsi.
4. Architecture. a figure of a man used as a column.
5. Persians. Persian blinds.

Persian

/ ˈpɜːʃən /

adjective

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

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 Words From

• pre-Persian adjective noun
• pseudo-Persian adjective noun
• trans-Persian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Persian¹

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

Example Sentences

One woman, who fled Iran for Canada in 2018, told BBC Persian that her family had been pressured by the Iranian regime to declare her mentally ill.

From BBC

He left Iran in 2007 and received asylum in Norway, before joining US broadcaster Voice of America's Persian service in Washington DC.

From BBC

BBC Persian has not been able to verify the man's claims.

From BBC

The ancient Persian paisley motif has long been a symbol for strength and fertility, and a brushed Zen circle filling one panel represents inner peace while doubling as a planetary emblem.

From Los Angeles Times

Iranian media are denying that these attacks have caused any real damage, as reported by BBC Persian.

From BBC