first responder

noun

: a person (such as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance

Examples of first responder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Tesla provided first responders in Austin three days of training and emergency guidebooks on how to interact with its Cybercabs, according to The Daily Texan. — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026 Sporting Wichita Academy said the tragedy had shaken a soccer community built around families and teammates, thanking first responders, medical workers and bystanders who stepped in to help. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 The restrictions are intended to keep parked vehicles out of the roadway, providing access for first responders and people trying to evacuate in the event of a fire. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 The incident shocked families and children at the field as dozens of first responders swarmed the scene. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for first responder

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of first responder was in 1970

Rhymes for first responder

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Browse Nearby Words

first reading
first responder
first-run
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Cite this Entry

“First responder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20responder. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

first responder

noun
first re·​spond·​er
-ri-ˈspän-dər
: a person (as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance
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