Definition of first responder
: 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 Meanwhile, more than 400 staff across the corps of first responder and transit workers are in quarantine due to infection or exposure. — Gwendolyn Wu, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2022 Thomason was pronounced dead by another first responder, according to the incident report. — NBC News, 17 Nov. 2021 Police arrested Wuerz, 53, and charged him with homicide of an unborn child, aggravated battery on a first responder and aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, according to the arrest report. — Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2021 The journalist opened his laptop and joined a few other participants in cyberspace for a morning of whiteboard sessions led by Callan and Chris Post, a first responder and photojournalist, who runs a Web site called JournalistSafety.com. — Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2021 After being evaluated in the hospital, Mistic was charged with assault on a first responder, obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest, according to the statement. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2021 Each day, a first responder is tasked to be a hero. — Laura Carrione, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2021 Why would anyone accept those odds in return for a first responder's modest paycheck? — Ron Grossman, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2021 Another first responder can be spotted in the shadows, indicating that the search for the missing and dead was still ongoing, and would continue. — Lori Grinker, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'first responder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of first responder
1970, in the meaning defined above
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Time Traveler for first responder
The first known use of first responder was in 1970
Dictionary Entries Near first responder
first-run
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"First responder." Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20responder. Accessed 20 Jan. 2022.
More Definitions for first responder
first re·​spond·​er | \ -ri-ˈspän-dər \
Kids Definition of first responder
: a person (as a police officer or an EMT) who is responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide help
acommodate acommadate
accomodate accommodate