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
To prepare for the big night, check out Vanity Fair’s oral history of the Oscar party, in which stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Lindsay Lohan shared their favorite memories from Vanity Fair Oscar parties of yore.
—
Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
Each person fills out an in-depth questionnaire—part oral history, part memory exercise.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
The image harkens back hunters using Black children as alligator bait, a practice portrayed in old illustrations and recorded in oral histories.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
On heritage, family and the importance of oral history.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oral history
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Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
Each person fills out an in-depth questionnaire—part oral history, part memory exercise.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
The image harkens back hunters using Black children as alligator bait, a practice portrayed in old illustrations and recorded in oral histories.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
On heritage, family and the importance of oral history.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oral history
Cite this Entry
“Oral history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oral%20history. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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