first aid

noun

: emergency care or treatment given to an ill or injured person before regular medical aid can be obtained

Examples of first aid in a Sentence

She gave him first aid for his sprained ankle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The new law also requires school buses to be inspected every 12 months or 50,000 miles and have fire extinguishers and first aid kits on board. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 22 June 2025 Off to the side, bystanders appear to provide first aid to a person lying on the ground. Michael Collins, USA Today, 3 June 2025 Emergency first aid was rendered, but the woman was declared dead at the scene. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 25 May 2025 Compared to an actual first aid kit, there is no need to buy any band aids or check the expiration date of your disinfectant. Lidija Globokar, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for first aid

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of first aid was in 1867

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“First aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20aid. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

first aid

noun
: emergency treatment given to an ill or injured person

Medical Definition

first aid

noun
: emergency care or treatment given to an ill or injured person before regular medical aid can be obtained

More from Merriam-Webster on first aid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!