firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
Synonyms of firsthand
: obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience
a firsthand account of the war
… had a firsthand view of the turmoil that wracked the region.—William W. Finan, Jr.
firsthand adverb

Synonyms of firsthand

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Examples of firsthand in a Sentence

He gave a firsthand account of the battle. She draws on firsthand experiences for her novel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is three times the pace of the firsthand market. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2026 Stephany Stella got a firsthand look at the destruction. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 25 June 2026 Eyewitnesses previously shared firsthand accounts of the fatal crash. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026 Nwodim pointed out that O’Connell has firsthand experience of their ineffectiveness. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for firsthand

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firsthand was in 1699

Rhymes for firsthand

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Browse Nearby Words

First Gentleman
firsthand
first inversion
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Cite this Entry

“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

firsthand

adjective
first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on firsthand

Nglish: Translation of firsthand for Spanish Speakers

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