firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand 

: obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience

a firsthand account of the war

… had a firsthand view of the turmoil that wracked the region.

—William W. Finan, Jr.

firsthand adverb

Synonyms of firsthand

• primary
• direct
• immediate

Examples of firsthand in a Sentence

He gave a firsthand account of the battle.

She draws on firsthand experiences for her novel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Snake hunter Mike Kimmel, who has firsthand experience wrangling them, put it bluntly. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026

Some educator guides recommend teaching media literacy, including people’s firsthand experiences. —Amaarah Decuir, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026

The campaign encourages consumers to allow their wardrobes to evolve through more qualitative and timeless secondhand options rather than firsthand overconsumption. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026

The month The Atlantic posted its firsthand account of administration officials sending classified communiqués, its entire website got 30 million visits. —Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for firsthand

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand 

: coming directly from the original source

a firsthand account of the war

firsthand adverb