Historic
hɪˈstɒrɪk
Definitions
Belonging to, connected with, or important in history; famous or important in history.
hɪˈstɒrɪk
Relating to past events or people, especially important or well-known ones.
The discovery of penicillin was a historic medical breakthrough.
💡 Simply: Something that's super old and important, like a famous event or place that everyone remembers. Imagine the first time someone walked on the moon – that's a historic moment!
👶 For kids: It means something really important that happened a long, long time ago, like a really old castle.
More Examples
They visited the historic battlefield where the decisive battle took place.
The team achieved a historic victory after many years of struggle.
How It's Used
"The historic city of Rome is filled with ancient landmarks."
"The signing of the treaty was a historic moment in diplomatic relations."
Idioms & expressions
a historic event
An event of great importance or consequence in history.
"The moon landing was a historic event that captivated the world."
historic site
A location of historical significance, often preserved for its cultural or heritage value.
"The ancient ruins are a popular historic site."
From Latin *historia* 'history', from Greek *ἱστορία* (historía, 'inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation'), from *ἵστωρ* (hístōr, 'wise man, witness, judge'). The 'c' spelling evolved through French.
The word 'historic' has been used since the 17th century, initially to describe events that were significant or noteworthy in history. Its usage has broadened over time, but it still carries the core meaning of being important in the context of the past.
Memory tip
Think of a HISTORIC building: it has a story and is part of history.