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

Meanwhile, countless others used their pagers, phones, and PCs to enter firsthand reports of what things were like in Lower Manhattan. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026

Pulling from decades of public service, research and firsthand experiences, the authors offer advice on how to manage finances, including how to increase a paycheck, navigate debt and plan for the future. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026

Further, according to a recent RMG Research poll, 79% of current union members — who have firsthand experience dealing with union officials — agree that union membership and dues payments should be voluntary. — Mark Mix, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

How to access the archive The National Geographic 9/11 archive is available online and allows users to explore hundreds of videos and firsthand accounts documenting the attacks and their aftermath. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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