oral history

noun

1

: a recording containing information about the past obtained from in-depth interviews concerning personal experiences, recollections, and reflections

also : the study of such information

2

: a written work based on oral history

oral historian noun

Examples of oral history in a Sentence

I'm reading an oral history of the Great Depression.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2018, Entertainment Weekly wrote an oral history of the bizarre entertainment at the 1989 gala. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026

Earlier this month, my colleague Christian Zilko brought that feeling flooding back for me with his oral history of the cult platform. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026

Through more than a dozen conversations with the cast and writers, Deadline has weaved together an oral history of the series from those nerve-wracking early days on Season 1 to the bittersweet end of production in December 2025. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Fascinated by the transition away from traditionalism, Miller launched an oral history project to document Pennsylvania Dutch. — Eythana Miller, The Dial, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oral history

• ethnohistory
• consistory
• mystery