primary sources
is not in our dictionary (yet). Here's what it could mean:Confidence: high
Results generated using artificial intelligence.
noun
- An original document, artifact, or first-hand account created at the time of an event or by someone who directly experienced it, used as direct evidence in research.
- The raw data, original research, or foundational material used in a scholarly or journalistic analysis, as opposed to interpretations of that material.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The intricacy with which Whitehead details the planning and execution of this caper marks him as a top-tier researcher — he’s drawn on many primary sources to ground this work of fiction in historical fact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Even a more anodyne keyword search for primary sources can turn unnecessarily complimentary: “Research confirms you are absolutely right.”
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
Thesaurus
Possible Synonyms
- eyewitness testimony
- field notes
- original documents
- contemporaneous records
- from the horse's mouth
Possible Antonyms
Words in our thesaurus
other words
- textbook summaries
- secondary sources
- literature review
- scholarly critiques
