ENGLISH
REFERENCE

firstborn

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfɝstˈbɔɹn// UK //fˈɜːstbɔːn// first·born

n. the oldest child in a family. This person often gets special attention or has a different role in the family than their younger siblings.

n. the eldest child in a family. Often carries cultural or psychological significance, particularly in terms of inheritance, parental expectations, or birth order theory.


SIMPLE

The firstborn usually gets the best room in the house.

CONTEXTUAL

In many traditional cultures, the firstborn is expected to take on significant family responsibilities from a young age.

COMPLEX

Psychologists have long debated whether the firstborn is more likely to be high-achieving due to the intense focus of their parents or if the pressure of being the eldest leads to anxiety and perfectionism.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English first borne. By surface analysis, first (adverb) + born.

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