Word
historic
Phoneticshis·toric
US/hɪˈstɔɹɪk/
UK/hɪstˈɒɹɪk/
Definitions
01important in history
B1 · Intermediate
adj. very important or famous in history.
adj. having great importance or lasting significance in the course of history.
“The two countries signed a historic peace treaty to end the long war.”
“The moon landing was a historic achievement that fundamentally altered humanity's perspective on its place in the universe.”
Usage
Often used with 'an' or 'a'; while 'a historic' is more common in modern English, 'an historic' is still found in formal writing.
Pitfall
We visited a historic building from the 1800s.
We visited a historical building from the 1800s.
Use 'historic' for things that are important or famous. Use 'historical' for things that simply belong to the past.
Teaching tip
Learners frequently confuse this with 'historical'. Remind them that 'historic' means 'famous/important' while 'historical' means 'related to the past'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02grammar
C1 · Advanced Law Technical
adj. used to describe verb tenses that talk about the past.
adj. relating to a tense or mood used to describe past events, such as the historic present.
“The writer uses the historic present to make the old story feel more exciting.”
“The author's use of the historic present creates a sense of immediacy, drawing the reader directly into the heat of the battle.”
Usage
Usually appears in the phrase 'historic present'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “historic” in context.
Verb
01. hail as historic
“The agreement was hailed as historic by leaders from around the world.”
verb + prep + adj
02. mark historic
“Today's vote marks a historic shift in the country's political landscape.”
verb + adj
Noun
03. historic achievement
“Winning four gold medals is a historic achievement for the young athlete.”
adj + noun
04. historic decision
“The court reached a historic decision that changed civil rights forever.”
adj + noun
05. historic occasion
“The opening of the new bridge was a grand historic occasion.”
adj + noun
06. historic site
“The government is working to preserve every historic site in the old town.”
adj + noun
07. historic victory
“Fans flooded the streets to celebrate the team's historic victory.”
adj + noun
08. historic buildings
09. historic event
10. historic quadruple
11. a historic turning point
“The invention of the steam engine was a historic turning point in human history.”
12. make a historic speech
“The president is expected to make a historic speech to the United Nations.”
Confusables
Historic describes something famous or important in history, while historical describes anything related to the past.
RememberHistoric = Famous. Historical = Related to history.
Etymology
From Latin historicus (“historical”), from Ancient Greek ἱστορικός (historikós, “exact; historical”). Cognate with French historique. By surface analysis, history + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/historic