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

Waymo, the self-driving car startup owned by Google parent Alphabet, plans to roll out fleetwide updates, expand its first responder engagement and update its emergency response protocol, it said in a statement Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 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

A retired first responder, he rarely misses a home game.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2025

"We're not a first responder role," said Ms Barnes.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

He’s a first responder with an artistic eye.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove