English Reference
noun

historian

n.
US /hɪˈstɔɹiən/ UK /hɪstˈɔːɹiən/ his·to·ri·an UK spelling historian's, historian's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    a person who studies or writes about history, often working at a university or museum.

    an expert who researches and interprets historical events, typically through the examination of archival records and physical evidence.

    Simple

    The historian spent months in the library looking at old letters from the war.

    In context

    The historian argued that the economic shifts of the nineteenth century were more influential than the political revolutions of the same period.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a person who explains their past health problems and medical background to a doctor.

    an individual who provides a detailed account of their own medical background or family health history during a clinical assessment.

    Simple

    The doctor noted that the patient was a good historian who remembered every detail of his surgery.

    In context

    The physician found the patient to be a poor historian, as she struggled to provide a coherent timeline of her symptoms or previous medications.

    Usage

    Usually used in a clinical context to describe how well a patient can recall their symptoms.

Letters uncovered at the Center for Brooklyn History by one of the authors of this article, historian Claire Bellerjeau , brought to light this lost story.

Smithsonian Magazine· 17 Aug 2026

But Hassoum Ceesay, the historian, says the performances of the Kanyeleng tell only part of their story.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

From Middle English historian, historien, from Old French historien, from Latin historia (“story, history”), equivalent to history + -ian. More at history.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin historia
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated