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

Pushing back, strenuously at first, was a far more skeptical Secretary of State Colin Powell, Woodward and other historians say. —Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025

Disney historian and podcast host Jim Hill discussed the resort’s dark history in a 2022 interview with the outlet. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Commemorate Great Lakes tragedy with Detroit historians The Detroit Historical Society has a lineup of events planned for the weekend leading up to the 50th anniversary. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Advertisement Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. —Time, 3 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