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

North Korean engineers have learned from time spent working in Russia’s massive Yelabuga drone factory, and North Korean forces fighting alongside Russia have gained firsthand experience in integrating drones into modern combat. — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Alaric Jackson's fateful punch of Bradley Chubb, which has been in the news cycle for multiple days, finally received a firsthand explanation from the man on the receiving end of the blow. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Students at Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy got a firsthand lesson in community service as volunteers worked side by side with them to improve their school on Tuesday. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Unraveling the Tunguska Event mystery Remarkably, scientists wouldn't get a firsthand look at the destruction caused by the Tunguska blast for almost two decades, due primarily to the extreme remoteness of the blast location. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 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