oral history

noun

1
: a recording containing information about the past obtained from in-depth interviews concerning personal experiences, recollections, and reflections
also : the study of such information
2
: a written work based on oral history
oral historian noun

Examples of oral history in a Sentence

I'm reading an oral history of the Great Depression.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Native American oral histories refer to gambling frequently, said Robert Wiener, a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth University who has studied gambling and religion at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, an ancient Puebloan center. Evan Bush, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026 Casting director Marcia Ross recalled the process for a 2019 New York Times oral history about the film. Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026 One of the most compelling aspects of the exhibition is its incorporation of a living oral history archive. Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026 Memoirs and oral histories recount these first moments of return. Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oral history

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oral history was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Oral history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oral%20history. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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