first aid

American  

noun

1. emergency aid or treatment given to someone injured, suddenly ill, etc., before regular medical services arrive or can be reached.

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first aid British  

noun

1. 1. immediate medical assistance given in an emergency

   2. ( as modifier )

      first-aid box

2. (in Barbados) a small shop that sells domestic items after hours

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Other Word Forms

• first-aider
  noun
• first-aid
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of first aid

First recorded in 1880–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first aid

She mainly shops at Boots for skincare, first aid and medicine, but thinks prices for its sanitary products are "ridiculously expensive" - something her friend Yasmin agrees with.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Skaff said injuries beyond those requiring simple first aid are rare.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

It will also examine decision-making and risk assessment training, focussing on how officers are helped to make bias-free decisions and identify where immediate action like first aid is required.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Adrienne cuts her leg on a rock, but Sara tends to it immediately with her handy dandy first aid kit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

“Come on, I’ve got a first aid kit in the theater,” she said, doing her best to ignore her roaring hunger.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

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