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

Recent layoffs across the industry have dampened employee pushback, said Margaret O'Mara, a tech historian at the University of Washington. —Joseph Menn The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026

To infuse the Lost Shtetl Museum with sounds rooted in historical and geographic accuracy, Beckerman’s team, which included composers and technologists, consulted historians affiliated with the museum. —Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

While the Walt Disney Family Museum and other Disney historians say there is no official record of Disney visiting the park, local newspapers of the era documented his appearance and many, including Metz, take it as fact that Disney spent an afternoon at Fairyland. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026

Michael Lansing is a historian and professor of history at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. —Yohuru Williams, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 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