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

The story is likely so relatable because the characters are inspired by Mitchell’s firsthand experiences. —Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 8 June 2026

Barra has said that growing up in manufacturing proved fundamental to her leadership, giving her firsthand insight into how every step of the production process shapes the final product. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 June 2026

That’s an issue she’s dealt with firsthand. —Rachel Fobar, Daily News, 7 June 2026

The Princess of Wales got a firsthand tour of The Christie on Thursday, which is renowned as one of Europe’s leading cancer centers and cares for over 60,000 people a year. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 June 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