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

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey addressed the incident Wednesday, expressing concern for the injured students and their families while thanking school staff and first responders for their swift action. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025

The technology helps first responders better assess emergencies before arriving on the scene. —Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025

Mindfulness unpacked Mindfulness has become a buzzword of late, with initiatives now present in schools, boardrooms and even among first responders. —Masha Remskar, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025

The couple had previously visited the area in October 2024 to meet with bereaved family members and the first responders who dealt with the emergency, which occurred in July 2024. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Sep. 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