historian
Americannoun
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an expert in history; authority on history.
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a writer of history; chronicler.
noun
Etymology
Origin of historian
Explanation
A historian is someone who is an authority on history. Your American History textbook was written by a historian. If you've ever taken a history class, chances are it was taught by a historian — someone who is an expert on history. You don't get to be a historian overnight; most historians have studied history for years and have a Master's or Ph.D. in history. If you want an informed opinion on past elections, wars, disasters, and trends, talk to a historian or read a book by one. Historians are experts on the past.
Vocabulary lists containing historian
"Mysteries of the Ancient Past"
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"The Sword in the Stone" and "Was There a Real King Arthur?"
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Week 5: Into the Past
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And what you can do if you… I’m a business strategy guy by work history, but trained as a historian.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Beginning in 1888 and continuing until the late 1960s, about 16 million tonnes of coal were extracted from the Comox Valley, according to historian Dawn Copeman.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
It was Edward Gibbon, the great historian of ancient Rome, who first observed that luxury goods constituted a “voluntary tax” that the rich paid to the people who produced those goods.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
One day in December 2022, Ruben Molina — DJ, record collector, and community historian — received a call about a collection of 78rpm records in Azusa.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
“It seems likely,” decided Calloway, the Dartmouth historian.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
