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.
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
Advertisement The next ‘Big Lie’ That brings us to 2024, when, if Trump loses, we will be inundated with false videos, firsthand stories and other specious proofs of the undocumented immigrant votes that turned the election.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The group is running digital ads in some of the state’s most populous cities featuring firsthand accounts from women who were forced to leave the state for treatment during their pregnancies, or grew sicker while waiting for care.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
For example, Grace said, a story about Hurricane Milton is verifiable if the reporter is citing a firsthand account from someone in Florida experiencing the hurricane themselves.
—Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
Her groundbreaking work, The History of Mary Prince, not only provided a poignant firsthand account of the brutal realities of slavery but also played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for firsthand 
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.
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The group is running digital ads in some of the state’s most populous cities featuring firsthand accounts from women who were forced to leave the state for treatment during their pregnancies, or grew sicker while waiting for care.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
For example, Grace said, a story about Hurricane Milton is verifiable if the reporter is citing a firsthand account from someone in Florida experiencing the hurricane themselves.
—Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
Her groundbreaking work, The History of Mary Prince, not only provided a poignant firsthand account of the brutal realities of slavery but also played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for firsthand
Dictionary Entries Near firsthand
Cite this Entry
“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
firsthand
adjective
first·hand
ˈfərst-ˈhand
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share