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

There were two off-duty first responders already at the park at the time of the shooting who attempted life-saving measures, officials said. —Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025

Even though emergency personnel had to be escorted to the remote location, Rogers said first responders arrived on scene within 18 minutes of being dispatched. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025

While passersby called 911, first responders didn’t arrive until 45 minutes later because of the remote location, WMTW reported. —Sam Gillette, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Nadler played a central part in high-profile debates over the limits of executive power and pushed legislation related to LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive access and long-term aid for 9/11 first responders. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 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