Aryan

UK: /ˈɛərɪən/ US: (âr′ē ən, âr′yən, ar′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Ar•y•an  (âr′ē ən, âr′yən, ar′-), n. 

1. Language Varieties, Archaeology [Ethnol.] a member or descendant of the prehistoric people who spoke Indo-European.
2. Government (in Nazi doctrine) a non-Jewish Caucasian, esp. of Nordic stock.
3. Language Varieties (formerly) Indo-European.
4. Language Varieties (formerly) Indo-Iranian.

adj. 

5. Language Varieties of or pertaining to an Aryan or the Aryans.
6. Language Varieties (formerly) Indo-European.
7. Language Varieties (formerly) Indo-Iranian.

Also, Arian. 

• Sanskrit ārya of high rank (adjective, adjectival), aristocrat (noun, nominal) + -an
• 1785–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Aryan, Arian / ˈɛərɪən/ noun

1. (in Nazi ideology) a Caucasian of non-Jewish descent, esp of the Nordic type
2. a member of any of the peoples supposedly descended from the Indo-Europeans, esp a speaker of an Iranian or Indic language in ancient times

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of an Aryan or Aryans

adjective , noun

1. Indo-European

Etymology: 19th Century: from Sanskrit ārya of noble birth