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

So, there were firsthand testimonies by many people who lost their relatives or were just passengers on the train. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2025

The community historians on the bus all had unique, firsthand views of Chicago’s important role in American Muslim history. —Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025

Ian Bell; 2025; USA; 100 min A chronicle of the Seattle World Trade Organization protests in 1999, told entirely through firsthand archival video. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 5 Feb. 2025

Hoover's letters provide a firsthand glimpse into the FBI's response to the tragedy and its subsequent investigation. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand 

: coming directly from the original source

a firsthand account of the war

firsthand adverb