historian

noun

his·​to·​ri·​an hi-ˈstȯr-ē-ən 

-ˈstär-

1

: a student or writer of history

especially : one who produces a scholarly synthesis

2

: a writer or compiler of a chronicle

Synonyms of historian

• chronicler

Examples of historian in a Sentence

historians are still trying to sort out fact from fiction in the story of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks

Recent Examples on the Web

Preservationists, architects and historians warn that painting the 19th century facade would trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and deface one of Washington’s most important historic structures. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

In The Steppe and Its Empires, the historian Michael Khodarkovsky accepts that historical and cultural differences separate Russia from western Europe. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

But Scott Burnstein, a mob historian and journalist from Detroit, says Cacioppo has connections with figures involved in the mob. — Jack Harvel august 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026

Modern historians overwhelmingly agree that immigration profoundly shaped Rome’s demographics and history, yet some have argued that there was little sense of immigrant community at Rome. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for historian

• chorion
• corean
• dorian
• saurian
• gregorian
• nestorian
• praetorian
• stentorian
• pythagorean
• valedictorian

Kids Definition

historian

noun

his·​to·​ri·​an his-ˈtōr-ē-ən 

-ˈtȯr-, 

-ˈtär-

: a student or writer of history