historical

Historical is an adjective used to describe things related to history—the study, recording, and interpretation of past events. It applies to periods, places, people, artifacts, documents, narratives, and interpretations that form part of human past. The term contrasts with contemporary and future and is commonly used in academic, museum, media, and cultural contexts. In some uses, historical can also describe long-standing traditions or conditions, such as historical practice within a field.

In historiography, the historical method involves critical analysis of sources, dating, and contextualization. Historians distinguish primary sources (original materials from the period) from secondary sources (later interpretations). They assess provenance, bias, and reliability, cross-check accounts, and construct chronological narratives. The accuracy and interpretation of historical information can vary, and new evidence or perspectives can revise established understandings. The term historical also appears in related disciplines such as historical linguistics, historical sociology, and historical archaeology, which study past phenomena with specialized methods.

Beyond academia, historical is used in museums, education, journalism, and media to indicate relevance to the past. Historical depiction in art and film can influence public memory, but may blend fact with interpretation or dramatization. Overall, historical serves as a flexible descriptor for material, methods, and discussions centered on what has occurred in the past.