Unhistorical: meaning, definitions and examples

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unhistorical

 

[ ʌnˈhɪstərɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

wrongly interpreted

The term 'unhistorical' refers to something that is not based on history or is inaccurate in its representation of historical facts. It may pertain to narratives or interpretations that disregard factual historical evidence. This term is often used in critiques of literature, folklore, or stories that present false accounts as truth. In discussions of historiography, unhistorical elements highlight the importance of adhering to established facts to maintain credibility.

Synonyms

fictitious, imprecise, inaccurate, legendary, mythological

Examples of usage

  • The movie presented an unhistorical version of the events.
  • Scholars criticized the book for its unhistorical claims.
  • Her portrayal of the characters was deemed as largely unhistorical.

Translations

Translations of the word "unhistorical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 não histórico

🇮🇳 अइतिहासिक

🇩🇪 unhistorisch

🇮🇩 tidak historis

🇺🇦 неісторичний

🇵🇱 niehistoryczny

🇯🇵 非歴史的な

🇫🇷 inhistorique

🇪🇸 no histórico

🇹🇷 tarih dışı

🇰🇷 비역사적

🇸🇦 غير تاريخي

🇨🇿 nehistorický

🇸🇰 nehistorický

🇨🇳 不历史的

🇸🇮 nehistorijski

🇮🇸 óhistorískur

🇰🇿 тарихсыз

🇬🇪 არისტორიული

🇦🇿 tarixsiz

🇲🇽 no histórico

Etymology

The word 'unhistorical' is formed by combining the prefix 'un-', which implies negation, with 'historical', derived from the Latin 'historicus', meaning 'pertaining to history'. 'Historical' itself comes from the Greek 'historikos', referring to inquiry or knowledge gained from investigation. The dual nature of 'un-' and 'historical' creates a term that describes things that lack a firm basis in documented history. The usage of 'unhistorical' began to appear in scholarly writings during the 19th century as historians began to address the inaccuracies and myths propagated in popular narratives. These dialogues included discussions on how romanticized tales could distort public understanding of actual historical events. By the 20th century, it had become a standard term among critics of historical inaccuracies produced in various forms of media, thus underlining the importance of integrity in the representation of history.