first floor

American  

noun

1. the ground floor of a building.

2. the floor above the ground floor of a building.

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first floor British  

noun

1. US and Canadian term: second floor.  the floor or storey of a building immediately above the ground floor

2. another term for ground floor

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Etymology

Origin of first floor

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

The museum, on the first floor, is a re-creation of “Skeldale House,” down to the pint pot in which Siegfried kept the petty cash and the old central telephone.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Consider a Primer school in Miami’s Liberty City, where students gather on the first floor of a residential building for seniors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

“The primary suite on the first floor features a 900-square-foot bedroom and a 1,000-square-foot spa-style bathroom, equipped with a Finnish dry sauna and steam sauna imported from Finland,” the listing reads.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

He shouted at Bosh to put his hands on his head, but instead he stood his ground then turned and started to go back up the stairs to the first floor landing.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

She lived in one of the pricey rooms on the first floor with her husband, Mr. Nash, who worked as a photographer on State Street.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan