historical
adjective
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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 historical in a Sentence
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
The beadwork and design features of each suit are intentionally placed to convey a unique visual story that reflects a common historical thread.
—Martie Bowser, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
And with good reason: His performance as a Jewish Hungarian architect lost in postwar America seemed to embody a whole historical era.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
His quest for the American dream takes a few turns from there in director Brady Corbet’s historical epic, which weaves in postwar xenophobia, class warfare and legacy in a darkly honest immigrant story.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Historical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historical. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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historical
adjective
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