first aid

noun

: emergency care or treatment given to an ill or injured person before regular medical aid can be obtained

Examples of first aid in a Sentence

She gave him first aid for his sprained ankle.

Recent Examples on the Web

If someone is choking and first aid measures fail to dislodge the obstruction, call 911, the agency said. — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

The attack briefly caused chaos in the area where dozens of fire engines and ambulances gathered to provide first aid. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

School staff called 911 and began administering first aid before first responders arrived and took over, Deputy Chief Nick Szczepanski of the Palm Bay Police Department said in a news conference later that day. — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2026

One dead roach with a sense of irony died in a first aid box on a kitchen wall. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for first aid

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

first aid

noun

: emergency treatment given to an ill or injured person

Medical Definition

first aid

noun

ˌfərst-ˈād 

: emergency care or treatment given to an ill or injured person before regular medical aid can be obtained