person-to-person

[ pur-suhn-tuh-pur-suhn ]

adjective

1. involving direct contact or exchange between individuals: Diplomacy requires person-to-person encounters at the highest levels of government.

   The disease is spread through person-to-person contact.

   Diplomacy requires person-to-person encounters at the highest levels of government.

2. (of a long-distance telephone call) chargeable only upon speaking with a specified person at the number called: Compare station-to-station.

   She made a person-to-person call to her brother in California.

adverb

1. face-to-face; in person:

   They interviewed her person-to-person.

2. (in making a long-distance telephone call) to a specified person: Compare station-to-station.

   I telephoned him person-to-person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of person-to-person¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Its method of transit is direct person-to-person contact with body fluids.

From The Daily Beast

Eating disorder sufferers are especially drawn to online sites due to their anonymity and lack of person-to-person contact.

From The Daily Beast

But now, Ebola has moved beyond its standard slow motion, person-to-person transmission.

From The Daily Beast

The only good news is that the disease is not contagious person-to-person.

From The Daily Beast

In a post-Citizens United World, however, the real power lies with big-monied groups that can overwhelm person-to-person networks.

From The Daily Beast

Karen showed him the phone and he started to put through a person-to-person call.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the circumstances, I didn't think a person-to-person call would be advisable.

From Project Gutenberg

He arose and went to the visiphone, placed a person-to-person call to Los Angeles.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• immediate
• personal