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

• direct
• immediate
• primary
• unmediated

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

Over the past 25 years, Brown has carved out a space on bookstore shelves by chronicling the behind-the-scenes stories and firsthand accounts of the creation of many of Rock & Roll, Hip-Hop, and Country’s biggest hits. —William Jones, USA Today, 16 May 2025

These corporate stakeholders have firsthand experience with innovation obstacles, implementation challenges, and competitive realities that can make or break policy effectiveness. —Gordon Bitko, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Lawyers representing a group of migrants filed an emergency motion seeking to prevent their deportation to Libya or Saudi Arabia, citing both press reports and firsthand accounts from migrants who alleged they were actively being prepared for removal to Libya or Saudi Arabia on military aircraft. —Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 7 May 2025

The New York Times One Day in Gaza | Close Up In One Day in Gaza, Al Jazeera English captures daily life in Gaza through the firsthand lens of Palestinians using their phone cameras, highlighting both the devastation of war and the resilience of those living through it. —Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025

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