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

Adam Tooze, the Columbia historian and author of the Chartbook newsletter, recently tracked what has changed. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

And presidential historian Michael Beschloss shared a photo of her with President Jimmy Carter in 1979. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

She’s also collaborated with the architectural historian Pierluigi Serraino to document the home and its architectural legacy. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026

The campground has been used to host community camp meetings for decades, historians say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 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