What does firsts mean?
"Firsts" is the plural of "first" and refers chiefly to things experienced or accomplished for the very first time — a child's first word, a pilot's solo flight, a nation's first Olympic medal. Because such moments carry emotional weight, the word is common in memoirs, parenting journals, sports reporting, and anniversary speeches, where it conveys novelty, achievement, and the passage from inexperience to experience. It also denotes those who come in first place in contests, as when an athlete collects several firsts in a single season, and in British higher education it can abbreviate first-class honours degrees, as in "she earned two firsts." Derived ultimately from Old English "fyrest," superlative of "fore," the word connects to a family of terms for precedence and beginnings. Whether marking private joy or public triumph, "firsts" captures the moments that define what comes after them.
Things that occur or are done for the first time; notable first-time experiences.
"The exhibition was a year of firsts for the young artist."
Often used with possessives (e.g. "her firsts") when referring to personal or family milestones.
Persons or things that achieve first place in a competition or ranking.
"He rode home with two firsts from the county fair."
In British usage, first-class honours degrees awarded at university.
"Two of the cohort's four students graduated with firsts."
Chiefly British; informal shorthand within academic contexts.
Standard plural; no alternative forms exist.
"The album documents all of his musical firsts."
Every life is a collection of firsts — and English is one of the few languages that lets you count them like keepsakes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does firsts come from?
"Firsts" derives from "first," which descends from the Old English adjective "fyrest" (or "fyrst"), the superlative form related to "fore," meaning before or in front. The plural simply extends this ancient Germanic root, which shares distant kinship with Latin-derived words like "primus"-based terms such as "primary" and "premier," all expressing the idea of precedence. Cognates appear across Germanic languages, including the German "Fürst," meaning prince or ruler, reflecting the same notion of being foremost.
Related word forms
How firsts is actually used
Most often used informally and affectionately, particularly around babies and personal milestones; the British academic sense ("got two firsts") is distinctly formal and regionally specific.
Easily confused with firsts
"Fists" are clenched hands, while "firsts" are first-time events or first-place finishes — they differ by only one letter and one sound.