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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Engaging with local real estate professionals, attending community events and joining investment groups can provide invaluable firsthand information. Quanique Johnson, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 King proceeds to relay more about Jennens’s inner life and creative struggles than about Handel’s, of which firsthand reports are skimpy. Jan Swafford, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024 The company’s research indicates that 80 percent of secondhand purchases on Vestiaire are instead of a firsthand purchase, which means about 10 million new items not purchased. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 14 Oct. 2024 President Joe Biden is set to visit the state on Thursday, just one day after Vice President Kamala Harris was in Augusta to get a firsthand look at the damage and meet with emergency officials. Chris Boyette, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near firsthand

Cite this Entry

“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!