Persian

noun

Per·​sian ˈpər-zhən How to pronounce Persian (audio)
 especially British  -shən
1
: one of the people of Persia: such as
a
: one of the ancient Iranians who under Cyrus and his successors founded an empire in southwest Asia
b
: a member of one of the peoples forming the modern Iranian nationality
2
a
: any of several Iranian languages dominant in Persia at different periods
b
: the modern language of Iran and western Afghanistan see Indo-European Languages Table
3
: a thin soft silk formerly used especially for linings
4
Persian adjective

Examples of Persian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then there is the Persian Gulf that helped pearls rain and reign in Paris throughout the period. Lily Templeton, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024 His athletic feat, combined with the glorious triumph of Greek armies against the massive and wealthy Persian Empire, provides the historical background for the modern marathon, established more than two thousand years later. Miriam Kamil, JSTOR Daily, 20 Nov. 2024 The timing coincided with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, serving as a meaningful nod to Taymoor’s Iranian heritage. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024 They were designed to simulate Scud missiles, like the ones Iraq fired at Israel during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and Iran’s Shahab series of ballistic missiles. Paul Iddon, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Persian 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Persian was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Persian

Cite this Entry

“Persian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Persian. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Persian

noun
Per·​sian ˈpər-zhən How to pronounce Persian (audio)
1
: a native or inhabitant of ancient Persia or modern Iran
2
: the language of the Persians
Persian adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Persian

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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