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

Smooth Nzewi is an artist and art historian and the Steven and Lisa Tananbaum Curator in the Painting and Sculpture Department at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. —Smooth Nzewi, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026

The historians filed out of the hall and into the outer galleries, happy to stretch their legs. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Growing up, Ralph Newman, the Lincoln historian and bookshop owner, was a dear friend of our family and a mentor to me. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026

Nancy Wilcox, a 16-year-old cheerleader in Salt Lake County, was believed to be one of Bundy's first victims in Utah, according to historian Linda Sillitoe. —CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026

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