firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those who have firsthand experience of that violence say actions speak louder than words. Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025 Therefore, Hughes will have at least some firsthand experience with Malhotra and will be able to share his thoughts on the latter’s potential suitability for the head coaching gig. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Quora addresses social community by fostering a platform dedicated to knowledge sharing, allowing users to ask questions and receive answers from experts, enthusiasts or individuals with firsthand experience on a wide variety of topics. Rodney Mason, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Teachers could follow suit and create immersive experiences for their students through AI and other firsthand accounts in history classes, allowing students to hear directly from those who lived through major events. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firsthand

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firsthand was in 1699

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Cite this Entry

“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

firsthand

adjective
first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on firsthand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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