first-person

1 of 2

adjective

first-per·​son ˈfərs(t)-ˈpər-sᵊn 

variants or less commonly first person

1

: of, relating to, or occurring in the first person

a first-person narrative

a first-person verb form

2

: experienced as if through the eyes of an avatar (as in a video game)

As 3-D first-person games evolved, … visual verisimilitude improved …

—Ian Bogost

When playing as the lead guitarist in first person mode players will see fans react to how they play.

—Sean Michael

see also first-person shooter

first person

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a set of linguistic forms (such as verb forms, pronouns, and inflectional affixes) referring to the speaker or writer of the utterance in which they occur

b

: a linguistic form belonging to such a set

c

: reference of a linguistic form to the speaker or writer of the utterance in which it occurs

2

: a style of discourse marked by general use of verbs and pronouns of the first person

Examples of first-person in a Sentence

Noun

She always wrote in the first person.

The sentence “I was born in Maine” is written in the first person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Video recording of a private phone call between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was leaked on social media this week, offering a first-person account of how Trump remembers his July 13 assassination attempt. —Tanisha Bhat, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024

Published Jul 15, 2024 Olivia Jordan Cornelius is a writer known for her intimate first-person essays on grief and navigating life after loss. —Olivia Jordan Cornelius, Outside Online, 15 July 2024

As a writer for Rolling Stone, Wright journeyed to war zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, delivering harrowing first-person reporting from the battlefields. —Rolling Stone, 14 July 2024

The narration is based on first-person accounts by Corvo of his upbringing in a household that shaped his anti-Fascist views and his wartime endeavors. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

first person

noun

1

: a set of words or forms (as pronouns or verb forms) referring to the person speaking or writing them

2

: a writing style making use of pronouns and verbs of the first person

first person narration