first aid

American  

noun

1. emergency aid or treatment given to someone injured, suddenly ill, etc., before regular medical services arrive or can be reached.

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first aid British  

noun

1. 1. immediate medical assistance given in an emergency

   2. ( as modifier )

      first-aid box

2. (in Barbados) a small shop that sells domestic items after hours

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Other Word Forms

• first-aid adjective
• first-aider noun

Etymology

Origin of first aid

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Donna, who used to work in the military but now works in education, stores water, tinned food, freeze-dried food, tea, coffee, powdered milk and a first aid kit.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Its curriculum ranges from basic first aid to countering Chinese information warfare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Among those racing across the city was Hussein Fakih, the regional head of the government-run Lebanese Civil Defence - the country's primary firefighting, first aid and rescue force.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

It has declared 2026 its “Total Defense Year” and urged participation from Norwegians across the spectrum, from fishermen training to spot suspicious ships to schoolchildren learning first aid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

“You know” — Lieutenant Carroll had spread all the extra first aid packs on the floor in front of him — “my brother went to theology school and I almost followed him.”

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers