firstborn

adjective

first·​born ˈfərs(t)-ˈbȯrn How to pronounce firstborn (audio)
: first brought forth : eldest
firstborn noun

Examples of firstborn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ezer Billie White White added another chef to the kitchen on October 20, 2018, when Timlin gave birth to their firstborn. Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 25 June 2026 Studies have shown that up to ten per cent of first-time mothers die in childbirth, as do more than sixty per cent of firstborn cubs. Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 His firstborn son was no stranger to this form of soccer as well. Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 Harris’s parents saw Martin Luther King speak together, protested the Vietnam War, and marched for civil rights pushing their firstborn in a stroller. Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for firstborn

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firstborn was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Firstborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firstborn. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

firstborn

adjective
first·​born ˈfərs(t)-ˈbȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce firstborn (audio)
: born first : eldest
firstborn noun

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