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Meaning & use

Zoroastrian

noun, adjective·Advancedreligion

Last updated

UK/ˌzɒrəʊˈæstriən/
US/ˌzɔːroʊˈæstriən/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablereligion

    A person who follows Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian religion based on the teachings of Zoroaster.

    Grammar: Always capitalized: a Zoroastrian, many Zoroastrians.

    Patterns

    • a Zoroastrian priest

    Many Zoroastrians live in India, where they are known as Parsis.

    A Zoroastrian priest tends the sacred fire.

    My neighbor is a Zoroastrian who celebrates Nowruz.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounreligion

    Connected with the faith of Zoroastrianism, its beliefs, customs or followers.

    Grammar: Capitalized and used before a noun: Zoroastrian temple.

    Patterns

    • Zoroastrian temple
    • Zoroastrian tradition

    The museum has a Zoroastrian fire temple model.

    Zoroastrian ideas about good and evil influenced later faiths.

    They study the Zoroastrian scriptures.

Word forms

pluralZoroastrians

Common combinations

Zoroastrian priest
The Zoroastrian priest led the ceremony.
Zoroastrian temple
They visited a Zoroastrian temple in Mumbai.
Zoroastrian faith
The Zoroastrian faith honors fire as a symbol of purity.
Zoroastrian community
The Zoroastrian community held a festival.
Zoroastrian texts
The Zoroastrian texts are called the Avesta.

Synonyms and how they differ

Parsi
Parsi is the name for Zoroastrians in India, so it is narrower than Zoroastrian.
Mazdean
Mazdean is a scholarly term relating to the god Ahura Mazda and is rarer than Zoroastrian.
Persian
Persian refers to people or culture of Persia and does not indicate a religion.

Word family

Zoroastrianism noun
the religion itself
Zoroaster noun
the prophet who founded the faith
Avesta noun
the sacred texts of the religion
Parsi noun
a Zoroastrian of Indian descent

Commonly confused: Zoroastrian or Zarathustra?

Zoroastrian vs Zarathustra

Zarathustra is the Persian form of the prophet's name, used in philosophy and music, while Zoroastrian names a follower.

Practice

Which religion do Zoroastrians follow?

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