# Chronicles

/ˈkɹɑnɪkəɫz/ (US) · /kɹˈɒnɪkəlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chronicles
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical records

noun · CEFR B2

written records of events that happened in the past, usually told in the order they occurred.

For teachers: historical accounts or narratives that record events in chronological sequence.

- The ancient chronicles tell the story of the king's long journey across the sea.
- Scholars spent decades examining the medieval chronicles to reconstruct the daily lives of common citizens during the plague years.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form when referring to a collection of historical records.

### 2. biblical books

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the name of two books in the Bible that record the history of the people of Israel.

For teachers: two books of the Old Testament (1 and 2 Chronicles) containing a genealogical and historical narrative of Judah and Israel.

- The priest read a passage from the Book of Chronicles during the service.
- The Books of Chronicles provide a parallel narrative to the Books of Kings, focusing heavily on the priestly and liturgical history of Jerusalem.

Teaching tip: In this religious context, the word is almost always capitalized as 'Chronicles'.

## Examples

- The library has the old chronicles of the city.
- The local chronicles provide a detailed account of how the village survived the harsh winter of 1842.
- Historians often compare different medieval chronicles to identify biases in how royal successions were recorded across various regions of the continent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.