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

Looking back more than six decades, it’s generally agreed by automotive historians that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first true muscle car. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2025

Rutger Bregman, the Danish historian and author, was asked by the BBC to deliver the 2025 Reith Lectures, a prestigious radio show named after Sir John Reith, the BBC’s first director general. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2025

Anna Whitelock is a historian, author, and broadcaster. —Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. —Time, 25 Nov. 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