a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it
"The renowned historian published a groundbreaking book detailing the political shifts of the twentieth century."
A writer of history; a chronicler; an annalist.
"The renowned historian spent decades compiling detailed records of ancient empires to serve as a faithful chronicler of their rise and fall."
In plain English: A historian is someone who studies and writes about past events to help us learn what happened before now.
"The historian spent years researching old letters to write her biography."
Usage: A historian is someone who studies and writes about the past, distinguishing them from a mere chronicle keeper by their analytical approach to historical events. Use this term for professionals or enthusiasts engaged in interpreting history rather than just recording dates.
The word historian comes from the Old French historien and ultimately derives from the Latin historia, meaning "story" or "history." It entered Middle English as a compound of history plus the suffix -ian to denote someone who writes about these events.