firsthand

American  

[furst-hand] / ˈfɜrstˈhænd /

Or first-hand

adverb

1. from the first or original source.

   We heard the news of the accident firsthand from a witness.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the first or original source.

2. direct from the original source.

   firsthand knowledge of the riot.

Etymology

Origin of firsthand

First recorded in 1690–1700; first + hand

Explanation

Anything firsthand is directly experienced, so your firsthand knowledge of the new math teacher's purple hair comes from the fact that you've seen it with your very own eyes. When you get information from someone who saw something happen or heard something said, that's firsthand evidence. And anything you see or hear yourself is also firsthand. Your summer job might be a firsthand look at what farming is really like. Interviewing a witness to a crime gives a police officer firsthand testimony about what exactly happened. This word, coined around 1690, comes from the idea that the maker of something is its first hand.

Example Sentences

Haitham Mengad, co-founder of Stems Labs, a startup focused on AI-powered music creation, felt the disruption firsthand.

From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026

The portrait—often known as “Whipped Peter”—became a lightning rod for the Abolitionist cause, galvanizing many Northerners who had yet to see the effects of slavery firsthand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

I saw firsthand that treating homelessness as a crime actively makes homelessness worse.

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2026

It’s something Cooley says is important to him because he knows firsthand that a lot of people’s lots are what he calls “hallowed ground.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

I have put together this report from firsthand interviews with the victims, and as the tale unfolds, you will realize that this was not easy.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer