first-person

1 of 2

adjective

first-per·​son ˈfərs(t)-ˈpər-sᵊn 

variants or less commonly first person

1

: of, relating to, or occurring in the first person

a first-person narrative

a first-person verb form

2

: experienced as if through the eyes of an avatar (as in a video game)

As 3-D first-person games evolved, … visual verisimilitude improved …

—Ian Bogost

When playing as the lead guitarist in first person mode players will see fans react to how they play.

—Sean Michael

see also first-person shooter

first person

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a set of linguistic forms (such as verb forms, pronouns, and inflectional affixes) referring to the speaker or writer of the utterance in which they occur

b

: a linguistic form belonging to such a set

c

: reference of a linguistic form to the speaker or writer of the utterance in which it occurs

2

: a style of discourse marked by general use of verbs and pronouns of the first person

Examples of first-person in a Sentence

Noun

She always wrote in the first person.

The sentence “I was born in Maine” is written in the first person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The plot follows classic first-person disaster flick tropes, those on-the-ground, tick-tock depictions of catastrophe that, though familiar to me now, were brand new to my eighteen-year-old mind. —Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025

Like in Prime games past, the first-person perspective allows players to comb the world using a scanning visor, which highlights pertinent information and clues on where to go next. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025

Outdoor enthusiasts will be inspired by thrilling first-person accounts, like visiting the region of Yangikala, which is known for its breathtaking and expansive canyons that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025

Thanks to her harrowing ordeal with Nile, Aggie does indeed write her book, which becomes a first-person narrative about her experience. —Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

first person

noun

1

: a set of words or forms (as pronouns or verb forms) referring to the person speaking or writing them

2

: a writing style making use of pronouns and verbs of the first person

first person narration