first responder

American  

[furst ri-spon-der] / ˈfɜrst rɪˈspɒn dər /

noun

• first responders
  plural

1. a person who is certified to provide medical care in emergencies before more highly trained medical personnel arrive on the scene.

   a firefighter trained as a first responder.

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first responder British  

noun

1. a person who is trained to provide basic life support in a medical emergency

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Usage

What does first responder mean? A first responder is a real-life superhero. They're someone whose job is to respond immediately (first) when there is an accident or emergency. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, and police officers are all considered first responders. How is first responder pronounced?[ furst ri-spon-der ]

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• first responders
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of first responder

First recorded in 1970–75

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Compare meaning

How does first-responder compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• first responder vs. EMT

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first responder

A first responder told the BBC they had never seen such a disaster in Coron, calling it "really heartbreaking".

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

"I was one of the people who carried and transported the casualties to the hospital last night," the first responder said, adding that the ferry was an hour away from its destination.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

He is not the only California first responder to have been accused recently of engaging in insurance fraud.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

I know this firsthand, having traveled to comfort victims of terror in Argentina, Paris and Turkey, and as a clergy first responder at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025

He’s a first responder with an artistic eye.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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