first responder

noun

: a person (such as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance

Examples of first responder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Massachusetts State Police Employee Assistance Unit also responded to provide for the needs of first responders. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025

While extinguishing the fire, first responders found an unresponsive woman in the home. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2025

Swaggart, 90, was found at his Baton Rouge residence around 8 a.m. Sunday, with first responders immediately administering CPR and taking him to a hospital, his family said on Facebook. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025

Watch Duty reporter Patricia Jacobs said first responders reported that no structures were threatened. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for first responder

• condor
• fonder
• launder
• mandir
• maunder
• ponder
• squander
• wander
• yonder
• transponder

Kids Definition

first responder

noun

first re·​spond·​er

-ri-ˈspän-dər

: a person (as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance