historical
gb/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl/ us/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl/
B1
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
related to past events
About people, events, or things from the past.
Usage pattern:
[something] is historical
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'historical' with 'historic'. 'Historic' usually means important in history, while 'historical' means related to history or the past in general.
Synonyms
past (Refers generally to an earlier time; less formal and not limited to significant events.)
|
historic (Often used for events or things of great importance in history, whereas 'historical' can refer to anything related to the past.)
Antonyms
modern (Refers to the present or recent times, the opposite of relating to the past.)
Collocations
historical event
|historical figure
|historical period
|historical record
|historical site
Themes
history
|culture
|education
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The museum has a large collection of historical documents.
- She is writing a book about historical events in the 18th century.
- Historical research helps us understand how societies have changed over time.
Learner examples
- This is a historical building.
- I like to read historical books.
- We learned about a historical war in class.
adjective
B2
property
2
based on the study of history
About the study or telling of past events.
Usage pattern:
[something] is historical
Synonyms
documentary (When referring to accounts or records; focuses on factual recording.)
Collocations
historical analysis
|historical research
|historical account
|historical evidence
Themes
history
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The film is not entirely accurate from a historical perspective.
- Historical research requires careful examination of sources.
- He wrote a historical account of the city's founding.
Learner examples
- We read a historical story in school.
- The teacher gave us a historical report.
- This movie is based on historical facts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
historical
IPA
GB/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl/
US/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
his - tor - ic - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: historical
Word family
Core family
history
noun A2
historically
adverb B1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
ahistorical
adjective
Expressions
historical context
1/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl kˈɑntɛkst/
fixed phrase
circumstances around past events
The situation or background that existed around an event in the past.
Examples
- Understanding the historical context helps explain why the war started.
- The novel makes more sense when you know its historical context.
historical fiction
1/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl fˈɪkʃən/
fixed phrase
fiction set in the past
A story that is made up but takes place in a real time in the past.
Examples
- She enjoys reading historical fiction about medieval England.
- Historical fiction can teach you about life in different times.
historical record
1/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl ɹˈɛkɚd/
fixed phrase
written account of past events
A written or recorded account of something that happened in the past.
Examples
- The historical record shows that the treaty was signed in 1812.
- We must preserve this letter as part of the historical record.