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

Franco succeeds founding director, art historian and Tufts University professor Adriana Zavala. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026

A week from Sunday, historian and writer Amy Lutz — no relation to Carl Lutz — will deliver a lecture on Carl Lutz's story. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026

That changed when Charles Brilvitch, Bridgeport’s former city historian, came across the houses in the early 1980s and began asking questions. —Reginald David, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026

La Jolla resident and architectural historian Diane Kane will highlight the art deco style across different cities. —La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for historian

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

Kids Definition

historian

noun

his·​to·​ri·​an his-ˈtōr-ē-ən 

-ˈtȯr-, 

-ˈtär-

: a student or writer of history