historical event
Documented past happening
A historical event is an occurrence of significance to the course of human affairs—wars, revolutions, discoveries, disasters.
The term implies events far enough in the past to be studied and assessed: The assassination was a major historical event.
Events still unfolding are rarely called historical, though people sometimes use the phrase for moments they believe will prove significant: We're witnessing a historical event.
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- landmarkNotable point of reference
- defining momentCrucial event shaping outcome
- watershed momentDecisive, transformative event
- chronicleOrdered historical record
epoch · turning point · commemoration · anniversary · monument · revolution · civil rights · war · treaty · uprising · assassination · coronation · discovery · battle · declaration · conquest · catastrophe · triumph
- historyancient civilizations, epochs, era, epoch, timeline
historical eventcurrent affairs
Ongoing public events
breaking news · live event · news story · developing story · prophecy
historical, event, history, historic, historically, historian, historiography, prehistoric, prehistory