firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
: 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

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.
In this talk, Hoffman shares insights from decades of research and fieldwork, offering a firsthand account of how near-complete global freezing events during the Proterozoic Eon may have shaped life on Earth. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025 The new owners of a home in Seattle were stunned to discover the firsthand account of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 26 May 2025 Farrell's wife, Etty Lau Farrell, addressed the issue in a social media post at the time, offering a firsthand account of the incident. Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025 Because when in doubt, a little firsthand intel goes a long way. Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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