oral history
noun
1
: a recording containing information about the past obtained from in-depth interviews concerning personal experiences, recollections, and reflections
also
: the study of such information
2
: a written work based on oral history
oral historian
noun
Examples of oral history in a Sentence
I'm reading an oral history of the Great Depression.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the oral history book Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour, the Jane's Addiction guitarist recalls his experience at the first Lollapalooza festival in 1991.
—
Marina Watts, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Participants can bring in up to 10 photographs or old flyers, posters or menus that document life in La Mesa, and can sign up for a 30-minute oral history interview and chance to tell their La Mesa story.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Starting around the turn of the 21st century, independent historians began to explore land reform, drawing on oral histories to challenge the party’s narrative.
—Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
Zoom out: The library has been leaning into oral history projects to tell the broader story of Nashville.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oral history
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Marina Watts, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Participants can bring in up to 10 photographs or old flyers, posters or menus that document life in La Mesa, and can sign up for a 30-minute oral history interview and chance to tell their La Mesa story.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Starting around the turn of the 21st century, independent historians began to explore land reform, drawing on oral histories to challenge the party’s narrative.
—Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
Zoom out: The library has been leaning into oral history projects to tell the broader story of Nashville.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oral history
Cite this Entry
“Oral history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oral%20history. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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