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

The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia has appointed art historian and educator Connie Choi chief curator and inaugural vice president for art and education, effective September 8. —News Desk, Artforum, 23 June 2026

Over the years, biographers and art historians have circled the same questions. —Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

The historian in question, the authors discover, is Gary Player’s caddy. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2026

One of the most exciting uses of AI has to be helping historians and archaeologists decipher previously indecipherable or untranslatable ancient texts. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 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