firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand 

: 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

• primary
• direct
• immediate

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

Josh Hart has firsthand knowledge of how much Philadelphia sports fans support their teams. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 11 May 2026

According to multiple people with firsthand knowledge of the deal who asked not to be named because the matter is private, a group led by Larry Gottesdiener paid $5 million for the Dream in 2021. —Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 4 May 2026

But—also speaking from firsthand experience—it actually can be done. —Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 30 Apr. 2026

Developed from firsthand experience in emergency response, its mission is to make critical information, such as utility shutoffs, appliance details, and maintenance records, accessible and shareable among those who rely on it. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for firsthand

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand 

: coming directly from the original source

a firsthand account of the war

firsthand adverb