cultural history

American  

[kuhl-cher-uhl his-tree, his-tuh-ree] / ˈkʌl tʃər əl ˈhɪs tri, ˈhɪs tə ri /

noun

• cultural histories
  plural

1. a study or account of a society's past that focuses on aspects of culture, such as the development of ideas, the arts, religion, lifestyle, etc., rather than primarily political events.

2. a study or account of a particular period in the past that compares and contrasts major cultures active at the time in terms of their rise and fall and the forces at work, including contact with each other and mutual influence.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cultural historian
  noun
• cultural-historical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cultural histories
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cultural history

Alternating sparkling wit with sobering erudition, he surveys the geology, geography, ecology, and social and cultural history that came to define the rivers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

As the lead advocate for the proposed Amargosa Basin National Monument, she is working to protect this entire corridor — the river, wetlands and deep cultural history stitched through these desert valleys.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2026

"This process was essential because the findings are deeply connected to Colombia's medical and cultural history," said Delgado.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 26, 2026

Since they were introduced in the 19th century, America’s amusement parks have acted as time capsules for the young country’s cultural history.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

We shall therefore trace writing’s development not only because of its inherent importance, but also for the general insights into cultural history that it provides.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond