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

Millennial historian Hannah Young called out Timberlake on her Instagram, but also the producers that enabled him. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Archaeologists and historians tell their stories from the ambition and ingenuity that made them, to the conflict and catastrophe that transformed them into the ruins of today. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Despite their obsessive purchasing, according to historian Andrew Lownie, by the 1950s, the Windsors often failed to pay their massive bills from the great jewelry houses. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026

They’re joined on A Heart for the Charts by Record Research Head Researcher Paul Haney, Second Disc founder Joe Marchese and Motown historian Andy Skurow. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 7 Oct. 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