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

According to the Boston Consulting Group, the secondhand fashion and luxury market is growing three times faster than the firsthand market. —Mari Sato The Dallas Morning News, Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026

At Dar el Hanch, the home’s current owners will welcome you for drinks and share firsthand stories of the Saint Laurent–era. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2026

Real Floridians share their firsthand accounts of viral incidents, which are then recreated with irreverent humor. —Kennedy French, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026

People throughout the region during the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer won’t have to attend any of the eight matches at SoFi Stadium to gain a firsthand feel for the largest sporting event on the planet. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 29 Jan. 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