oral history

American  

noun

1. information of historical or sociological importance obtained usually by tape-recorded interviews with persons whose experiences and memories are representative or whose lives have been of special significance.

2. a book, article, recording, or transcription of such information.

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oral history British  

noun

1. the memories of living people about events or social conditions which they experienced in their earlier lives taped and preserved as historical evidence

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Other Word Forms

• oral historian noun

Etymology

Origin of oral history

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The oral history includes McCartney’s defense of that track: “The truth is, it was catchy.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

His notes “took over our dining room at home,” much to his wife’s chagrin, Banatao said in the oral history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

“We were facing things that the average person would never even consider,” Basheer said in the “Storytelling Project” oral history.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2025

While McCartney was unquestionably the band’s reigning star, his bandmates’ contributions to Wings’ commanding success during the 1970s is amply demonstrated in McCartney and Widmer’s expansive oral history.

From Salon • Nov. 3, 2025

I spend the rest of lunch talking to Mrs. Medina about oral history projects and good questions, and then I wander over to my next class before the bell rings.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh