Chronicle
noun /ˈkrɒn.ɪ.kəl/ — A historical account arranged in chronological order.
Definition
A detailed written account of historical events arranged in order of time, without analysis or editorial interpretation. Chronicles are records, not arguments — they preserve sequence more than meaning, leaving analysis to later historians.
Beyond the definition
A chronicle is history before it knows what it means — events laid side by side, the pattern still emerging. We live in chronicles; we read history.
Origin & history
From Medieval Latin 'chronica', from Greek 'khronika' (annals); from 'khronos' (time).
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The Bayeux Tapestry is a chronicle in thread — the Norman Conquest told in sequence, event by event.
He kept a chronicle of the building project: photographs, notes, receipts — wanting the record of the thing becoming.
A diary is a private chronicle; a newspaper is a public one. Both are writing before understanding catches up.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Chronicle” when the meaning fits your context: A detailed written account of historical events arranged in order of time, without analysis or editorial interpretation. Chronicles are records, not arguments — they preserve sequence more than meaning, leaving analysis to later historians.
Synonyms
annals, record, account, history
Antonyms
analysis, interpretation
Related words
Chronicle vs history
A chronicle is a factual, chronological record of events without interpretation. History involves the analysis and explanation of past events' significance.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult Reading From Ancient Book
An adult in a quiet archive holds a large, ancient book open, its pages clearly filled with handwritten, chronological records.
A chronicle is a record of historical events arranged by time without analysis. This scene of archival research illustrates the function of the chronicle as an uninterpreted record, preserving sequence for later study.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Chronicle" mean?
Chronicle is noun meaning: A historical account arranged in chronological order.. A detailed written account of historical events arranged in order of time, without analysis or editorial interpretation. Chronicles are records, not arguments — they preserve sequence more than meaning, leaving analysis to later historians.
Where does the word "Chronicle" come from?
From Medieval Latin 'chronica', from Greek 'khronika' (annals); from 'khronos' (time).