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.
William W. Finan, Jr.
firsthand
adverb
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
Her story offers a rare, firsthand account of what pet cloning actually involves, including the emotional highs, the surprising wait and the very real differences between a cloned cat and the original.
—Ryan Brennan
march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
Officials said their goal is to give them a firsthand understanding of how dangerous impaired or distracted driving can be.
—Nakell Williams, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
More broadly, Tiley has firsthand experience in the market forces reshaping global tennis.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Puerto Peñasco did not experience the violence that broke out in places such as Puerto Vallarta following Oseguera's death, according to firsthand accounts from residents and travelers posted to social media groups on Puerto Penasco, including Rocky Point/Puerto Peñasco Friends on Facebook.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
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Ryan Brennan
march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026
Officials said their goal is to give them a firsthand understanding of how dangerous impaired or distracted driving can be.
—Nakell Williams, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
More broadly, Tiley has firsthand experience in the market forces reshaping global tennis.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Puerto Peñasco did not experience the violence that broke out in places such as Puerto Vallarta following Oseguera's death, according to firsthand accounts from residents and travelers posted to social media groups on Puerto Penasco, including Rocky Point/Puerto Peñasco Friends on Facebook.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
Cite this Entry
“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
firsthand
adjective
first·hand
ˈfərst-ˈhand
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand
adverb
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