oral history

NOUN

spoken historical recollection

Synonyms

WEAK

firsthand account folk literature narrative history oral record survivors' account witnesses' account

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Inside one of the oldest barbershops in Boyle Heights, Rodney Trammell gave an oral history of Brooklyn Avenue before it was renamed after civil rights leader Cesar E. Chavez.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

His notes “took over our dining room at home,” much to his wife’s chagrin, Banatao said in the oral history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Vaginal Davis on her L.A. beginnings and having fun while making an impact Visiting the in-demand Wendy L’Belle Tividad for a psychic reading Unpacking the oral history of jerkin’ and its lasting impact beyond L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

“I just believe in service,” she said in an oral history interview with the Eastern Kentucky University Research Center for Special Collections & Archives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

But they have a rich oral history filled with stories about their past that continues to this day.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler