historic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'historic' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has had a significant impact on the course of history. For example: Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990 marked a historic moment in South African history.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The move by the leaders of Germany and France, who were upset by Cameron's initial plan to deliver his speech on the same day as their celebration marking their historic post-war reconciliation, means negotiations could take place earlier than No 10 had expected.

The Guardian

Male Conservative MPs voted against equal marriage in larger numbers proportionally than their female colleagues, according to a breakdown of the voting figures after the historic debate in parliament.

The Guardian

Kansas is also $280m short on due payments for this fiscal year, following an experiment with historic tax cuts now in its fourth year.

The Guardian

Thus do peaches and nectarines turn into issues involving debt mountains, military no-go zones and historic ethnic rivalries.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only the US – which borrowed massively, restructured its banks and printed money on a historic scale – enjoys anything like a sustainable recovery, and even that's being sustained only by the promise that quantitative easing will go on ad infinitum.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Based on historic and global track records, trying to build a new city from scratch is a massive gamble," says Brent Toderian, Vancouver's former chief planner, and a consultant for several cities outside of the Middle East.

The Guardian

This shows how adaptable public services have been so far, and, the fact that, in historic terms, that when retrenchment began they were relatively fully funded.

The Guardian

The People's Palace is directly opposite, providing a splendid finish to Glasgow's East End, which is (like the rest of Glasgow) both magically historic and buzzing with up-and-coming culture.

The Guardian - Travel

Compared with other protests in recent years, the republican demonstrations on day one of the Queen's historic visit to the Irish Republic were lacklustre.

The Guardian

The violent seizure of white-owned farms in the 2000s, they argue, was a historic reclaiming of land from the legacy of colonialism, an act that South Africa and other post-independence governments have not dared carry out.

The Guardian

"Critically, the stock of property on the market continues to hover close to historic lows with new instructions to agents falling in 10 of the last 12 months.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event, use "historic" to emphasize its long-term impact and significance for future generations.

Common error

Avoid using "historic" for minor or everyday occurrences; reserve it for events that genuinely have lasting importance.

Linguistic Context

The word "historic" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe events, places, or objects that are considered important or significant in history, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "historic" is a versatile adjective used to denote significance and importance in the context of history. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and media. While it's important to reserve the word for events with lasting impact, as advised in the writing guidance, overuse should be avoided. Alternative phrases like "significant" or "noteworthy" can be used for variety. Given its wide usage in authoritative sources and across various contexts, understanding the nuanced application of "historic" is essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of historical importance

More explicitly connects the subject to recorded history.

significant

Emphasizes importance and consequence, often lacking the direct connection to historical events.

landmark

Emphasizes a key event or achievement marking a turning point.

epoch-making

Emphasizes a turning point in history, focusing on broad changes.

consequential

Highlights the impact and results of an event, potentially lacking the specific historical focus.

noteworthy

Highlights something deserving attention or recognition, without necessarily being historical.

memorable

Focuses on the quality of being easily remembered, potentially for reasons other than historical significance.

unprecedented

Indicates that something has never happened before, highlighting its novelty more than its historical context.

past

Refers to something belonging to a former time.

traditional

Relates to customs or beliefs passed down through generations.

FAQs

How is "historic" used in a sentence?

The word "historic" describes something significant in history. For example, "The signing of the peace treaty was a "historic" moment."

What's the difference between "historic" and "historical"?

"Historic" refers to something important in history, while "historical" relates to the study or representation of the past. A "historic" event has significance; a historical novel is about the past.

What can I say instead of "historic"?

You can use alternatives like "significant", "noteworthy", or "landmark" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "historic" to describe something that happened recently?

Yes, if the recent event is expected to have a lasting impact on the future, it can be described as "historic". The assessment depends on the perceived long-term importance.