First describes the person or thing that comes before all others in time, order, or importance. It can also be used as a noun or adverb, like “come in first” or “first, we will…”.
It comes from Old English “fyrst,” related to “fore” and “before,” meaning the one at the front. It is part of an old family of words about being ahead or earlier.
“First,” “foremost,” and “before” share a sense of being out in front, like a leader or a point on a line. The idea of being “first” is so powerful that many cultures build stories, prizes, and even national identities around it.
Historical records often highlighted men as the "first" in various fields while overlooking earlier or concurrent contributions by women and other marginalized groups. This shaped narratives where "first" achievements by women were recognized late or contested.
When using "first," be precise about context (e.g., "first recorded," "first in this country") and check whether women or other groups had earlier, under-recognized achievements.
When noting "first" achievements, explicitly include and credit women’s earlier or parallel contributions that may have been omitted from mainstream histories.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.