Origin: Latin suffix -al
Historical has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
A historical romance.
"She loved reading a historical romance that transported her back to the courts of ancient Rome."
"The historical of that ancient battle is still debated by experts today."
Usage: When used as a noun, "historical" typically refers to something related to history or a work set in the past, such as a historical romance novel. Do not use it as a standalone noun to mean an event from history; instead, use the phrase "a historical event" or refer to the specific genre as "historical fiction."
having once lived or existed or taken place in the real world as distinct from being legendary
"the historical Jesus"
"doubt that a historical Camelot every existed"
"actual historical events"
belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
"historic victories"
"historical (or historic) times"
"a historical character"
used of the study of a phenomenon (especially language) as it changes through time
"diachronic linguistics"
Of, concerning, or in accordance with recorded history, (particularly) as opposed to legends, myths, and fictions.
"The museum curator insisted that their new exhibit focused strictly on historical events rather than the surrounding local legends."
In plain English: Historical means something that happened in the past and is part of history.
"The historical museum opened its doors to the public today."
Usage: Use historical when describing events that actually occurred and are documented in the past, such as a historical figure or a historical document. Avoid using it for things that never happened or exist only in fiction, which should instead be described as fictional or legendary.
The word historical comes from the Latin historicus, which originally meant "pertaining to history." It entered English as an adjective formed by adding the suffix -al to this root.