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Definition of iranian

iranian

/ɪˈreɪ.ni.ən/
I · ra · ni · an
Plural:Iranians
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iranian Lexical Profile

• adjective

1

Relating to Iran, its people, its culture, or the Iranian languages.

Example

"The museum is hosting an exhibition of traditional Iranian calligraphy and ceramics."

Synonyms
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• noun

1

A native or inhabitant of Iran, or a person of Iranian descent.

Example

"Millions of Iranians celebrate Nowruz to mark the arrival of spring and the new year."

2

A major branch of the Indo-Iranian subfamily of Indo-European languages, which includes Persian, Pashto, Kurdish, and Baluchi.

Example

"Scholars of historical linguistics traced the phonological shifts across ancient and modern Iranian."

Synonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

"Iranian" refers broadly to the nationality of modern Iran or the wider family of Indo-Iranian languages, whereas "Persian" specifically denotes the dominant ethnic group and official language (Farsi) of Iran, or historical Persia.

• Rhymes for iranian

• Nearby Words

ipomoea
ipomopsis
iran
iranian
iraq
iraqi
irascibility

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from "Iran" plus the suffix "-ian"; the name "Iran" derives from Middle Persian "Eran," ultimately from Old Iranian "Aryana," meaning "land of the Aryans."

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Iranian. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/iranian
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