historical artifact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "historical artifact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an object made by humans that has historical significance or value. Example: "The museum displayed a historical artifact from the ancient civilization, showcasing their advanced craftsmanship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a historical artifact, the suitcase is beyond price.

The New Yorker

Alisi is not simply an historical artifact, however.

University of California, Berkeley

Authenticity is a legitimate consideration when a photographic print is presented as an actual historical artifact.

The New York Times

"Like any other historical artifact, it is an artifact," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

As it turns out, the party's attachment to military spending is a fading historical artifact.

The New York Times

What had sounded like a curiosity — a historical artifact — now sounded like a recent radio broadcast.

The New Yorker

Any restriction on public access to the content of such a historical artifact should be enforced with caution.

The Washington Post

Then he showed me a helmet that looked like a historical artifact, dented and riddled with bullet holes.

The New Yorker

But three-person cockpits are a historical artifact now -- all the manufacturers have eliminated the flight engineer.

The New York Times

With the average age of Baldwin's audience well past 70, however, Mr. Baldwin finds himself becoming a historical artifact.

The New York Times - Arts

Once recreated, the work becomes a monument, an academic exercise, a historical artifact, a paying attraction, frozen in time.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "historical artifact" figuratively to describe ideas, policies, or habits that are outdated but still exist in the present, such as referring to a fading political policy as a "fading historical artifact".

Common error

While "an historical artifact" is traditionally seen in some older British or academic texts, modern standard English, especially in the US, favors "a historical artifact" because the 'h' is clearly pronounced. Choose one style and be consistent throughout your document.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "historical artifact" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to categorize physical items that serve as evidence of human history or to metaphorically describe outdated social constructs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "historical artifact" is an essential and versatile phrase in the English language. As shown by Ludwig, it is used with high frequency in prestigious publications and academic journals to denote items of lasting value. While primarily used for physical objects like ancient tools or documents, it is increasingly used metaphorically to describe policies, behaviors, or technologies that have outlived their original utility. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and carries a tone of authority and precision, making it an excellent choice for formal writing and historical analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cultural relic

emphasizes the cultural or religious importance of the object rather than just its age.

historical object

is a slightly more generic term that lacks the scientific connotation of artifact.

antiquity

specifically refers to objects from the ancient past, typically the classical period.

archaeological find

refers specifically to objects discovered through excavation or field research.

primary source

used in history to denote any original document or physical object from the time period under study.

material remnant

highlights the physical survival of an object from a previous era.

curiosity

often implies the object is interesting or unusual, rather than just historically significant.

legacy item

suggests an object passed down through generations or as part of an inheritance.

vintage piece

refers to items that are old but not necessarily ancient or significant enough to be an artifact.

chronological specimen

a technical term used when the object is a representative sample of a specific time period.

FAQs

How do I use "historical artifact" in a sentence?

You can use "historical artifact" to refer to physical objects or abstract concepts, for example: "The museum's latest acquisition is a rare historical artifact from the Ming Dynasty."

What can I say instead of "historical artifact"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "cultural relic", "historical object", or "archaeological find".

Is it "a historical artifact" or "an historical artifact"?

Both are used, but "a historical artifact" is more common in modern American English. Some academic sources, like those found in Ludwig, still use "an historical artifact".

What's the difference between "historical artifact" and "antiquity"?

"Historical artifact" is a broad term for any object from the past, while "antiquity" usually refers to objects specifically from ancient history, such as Greek or Roman items.