# firsthand

/ˈfɝshænd/ (US) · /fˈɜːsthænd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/firsthand
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

coming directly from your own experience rather than hearing about it from someone else. You use this to describe knowledge you gained by being there yourself.

For teachers: obtained directly from the original source or through personal experience. Often used attributively before a noun to describe evidence, knowledge, or accounts.

## Examples

- She has firsthand experience of the problem.
- The journalist provided a firsthand account of the events after spending three weeks in the conflict zone.
- While textbooks provide a theoretical framework, firsthand observation of the chemical reaction in a controlled laboratory setting is essential for a complete understanding of the process.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies; can also function as an adverb in the same form.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.