first responder

American  

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

noun

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 ]

Etymology

Origin of first responder

First recorded in 1970–75

Compare meaning

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

• first responder vs. EMT

Example Sentences

Community first responder Emily Hilton was assessing the man who had fallen on a busy main road in Cardiff last March.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

Sally Holmes, a community first responder in Worthing, has delivered dozens of CPR training sessions this year.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

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

His grandson Mendy Amzalak told The Australian that he had rushed to the scene on the beach as a first responder.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

I remembered my textbook for the first responder class.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin