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

When Americans filled Havana hotels after Obama eased travel restrictions and normalized relations, López-Calleja transferred Habaguanex, a company that managed hotels, stores and restaurants in colonial Old Havana, from the city historian’s office to Gaviota. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025

Trying to explain popularity is an exercise in sociology or marketing and therefore, in my view, a waste of the literary historian’s time. —Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025

In a review for The American Scholar, Jacques Barzun, the Columbia historian, called Web. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

The 11-member committee worked with the National Archives, National Park Service and historians to develop themes and designs for the coins. —Arkansas Online, 21 Dec. 2025

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