adj Uncommon

firsthand

FURST-hand

Firsthand (adj) means coming directly from personal experience, without any middleman. Example: “She gave a firsthand account of the earthquake.”

adj

Coming directly from personal experience, without any middleman.

"She gave a firsthand account of the earthquake."

adv

Directly, through one's own experience.

"He learned firsthand how hard farming can be."

How to Use Firsthand

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDirectly experienced, not heard secondhand from someone else.

Easily confused with

secondhand →

Common pairings

firsthand experience firsthand account

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She gave a _____ account of the earthquake.

Etymology

From first and hand.

Synonyms

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at first hand

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “firsthand” mean?

The word “firsthand” means coming directly from personal experience, without any middleman. In plain terms, directly experienced, not heard secondhand from someone else.

How do you pronounce “firsthand”?

“Firsthand” is pronounced FURST-hand (/ˈfɝstˌhænd/ in IPA).

How do you use “firsthand” in a sentence?

Here is “firsthand” used in a sentence: “She gave a firsthand account of the earthquake.”

What part of speech is “firsthand”?

Depending on how it is used, “firsthand” can be an adjective and an adverb.

Is “firsthand” a common word?

“Firsthand” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “firsthand” have?

“Firsthand” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming directly from personal experience, without any middleman.