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

A statement from the Oregon Health Authority said there is “no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low.”

From Los Angeles Times

H5N1 could develop the capability for person-to-person transmission in a few ways.

From Salon

They underscored that there is no indication of person-to-person spread of bird flu at this time.

From Los Angeles Times

Although the virus has so far shown no genetic evidence of acquiring the ability to spread from person-to-person, public health officials are closely monitoring the dairy cow situation as part of overarching pandemic preparedness efforts.

From Science Daily

In the year 2000, the World Health Organization declared measles eliminated from the United States — meaning no sustained person-to-person transmission of the virus.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• immediate
• personal