ˌfirst-ˈhand BrE AmE ( also first‧hand ) /ˌfɜːstˈhænd $ ˌfɜːrst-/ adjective [only before noun]
first-hand experience/knowledge/account etc experience etc that has been learned or gained by doing something yourself or by talking to someone yourself ⇨ second-hand :
journalists with first-hand experience of working in war zones
—first-hand adverb :
experience gained first-hand
⇨ (at) first hand at ↑ first 1 (8)