historic
adjective
Did you know?
historic or historical?
Do you experience a slight pause before using either of these words as you try to remember which one is correct and whether it should be preceded by an or a? If so, you’re not alone, for many people find this pair particularly tricky. Historic and historical are both occasionally found preceded by an, since the initial h in each word was formerly left unpronounced. Now this h is heard, and a is far more common than an (by a ratio of about 4 to 1 in American English).
Historic and historical have been used interchangeably by many writers, even in recent years. If you would like to avoid being corrected, however, use historical for matters relating to history (the historical society), and historic to refer to things having great and lasting importance (a historic occasion).
Examples of historic in a Sentence
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
The bright and glassy Jepson Center, conspicuous amid Savannah’s historic architecture, features traveling exhibitions and contemporary local works, and also houses the Telfair Children’s Art Museum, opened in 2023.
—Adam Kuehl, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Marquez’s sentencing was one of the final loose ends in a historic investigation that exposed corruption at the highest levels of Illinois government and brought down Madigan, the then-leader of the Illinois Democratic Party and undisputedly the most powerful politician in the state.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Years in the making, a high-profile historic building along Kansas City’s streetcar line is getting an upgrade.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for historic
Cite this Entry
“Historic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historic. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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historic
adjective
