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

In an era when so many in Washington seem detached from the realities of military service, Pete Hegseth's firsthand experience and unshakable commitment to our armed forces stands out as invaluable. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Network your way into decision-makers to get firsthand nuance about what the company really needs. —Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Since then, Jessie and Calen have joined forces with her to share their firsthand — and sometimes harrowing — accounts. —Liz McNeil, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024

David Ellison recently hired former longtime Netflix executive Cindy Holland, someone with firsthand knowledge of using technology to grow and scale a business with a tech mentality. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024

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