sec·ond·hand
ˈse-kən(d)-ˈhand 
1
a
: received from or through an intermediary : borrowed
b
: derivative
secondhand ideas
2
a
: acquired after being used by another : not new
secondhand books
b
: dealing in secondhand merchandise
a secondhand bookstore
1
: at second hand : indirectly
heard about it secondhand
2
: as a secondhand item
bought the couch secondhand
: an intermediate person or means : intermediary
—usually used in the phrase at second hand
: the hand marking seconds on a timepiece
Synonyms
Examples of secondhand in a Sentence
Adjective
a dealer in secondhand furniture
He's always haunting the secondhand shops for bargains.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
According to ThredUp’s 2022 research, the US secondhand clothing market is projected to be worth $70 billion by 2027, and even traditional big name fast fashion brands like H&M and American Eagle are developing in-house resale programs.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2024
Hermès does not control the robust secondhand market for its bags, and people sometimes do just walk into a boutique off the street, ask nicely, and get lucky.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
But EVs are now mainstream in Europe and China, and the secondhand market is picking up pace, dragging devices like home chargers along with it.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Rising cost of living and higher prices for new clothes are driving more people to explore the secondhand market.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
To make the most of your day, head to the sprawling wonderland of the Saint-Ouen, where nearly 2,000 vendors comprise the largest secondhand market in the world.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
However, secondhand prices are much more comparable.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Inflation is giving the secondhand clothing industry a big boost.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
James Morris, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Indya is currently also exploring buying designer pieces secondhand or discounted as well from shops like The RealReal.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 19 Jan. 2024
Veterinarians are unsure if the illness spreads through a dog's direct contact with a sick dog or if the illness can be picked up secondhand, like through an item of clothing that has been in contact with a sick dog.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Much of the furniture was found secondhand, from sites like 1stdibs and Chairish, or repurposed from previous tenants.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2023
Sneakers are sold secondhand on websites like StockX, GOAT, and eBay for hundreds of dollars over their price on the primary market.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023
Others shop secondhand to reduce their environmental impact, extending the lifespan of existing items that might otherwise head to the landfill.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
The average price of a watch sold secondhand has fallen by 31% since March 11, 2022, after rising steadily for much of 2021, according to data from WatchCharts, a market research platform.
—By
amina Niasse, WSJ, 11 July 2023
Our experts also discourage shoppers from buying breast pumps secondhand for this very reason.
—Jamie Spain and Rachel Rothman, goodhousekeeping.com, 10 June 2023
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2023
This action can result in the clock’s second hand appearing to remain stationary for more than a second.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 7 Dec. 2023
Constant force from the spring is what cases the second hand to move faster— appearing smoother—on an automatic watch than a quartz watch.
—Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 20 June 2023
The Economy Shop, which sold second hand clothing, accessories and home goods, was open three mornings per week.
—Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023
The movie’s main trope is the slow zoom in, which has the feel of a watch’s second hand ticking onscreen, conjuring urgency and a sense that time is rushing by at the speed of thought.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023
Unlike many rival investors, the former psych major’s willingness and ability to listen to founders’ fears without interjecting with second hand advice, or some business school case study, has won him a loyal, and now influential following.
—Iain Martin, Forbes, 5 May 2023
Beacon's Closet is a fixture of the New York second hand scene with a website that gives you access to the inventory of all four locations.
—Brad Lanphear, menshealth.com, 15 Apr. 2023
The key difference between a chronograph watch and all other watches is that the big second hand does not actually track seconds in real time.
—Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 27 July 2023
Adjective
The documentary spends time in Accra, Ghana, the site of massive secondhand clothing market Kantamanto, where clothes pollute local waterways and wash ashore on beaches.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
According to ThredUp’s 2022 research, the US secondhand clothing market is projected to be worth $70 billion by 2027, and even traditional big name fast fashion brands like H&M and American Eagle are developing in-house resale programs.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2024
Hermès does not control the robust secondhand market for its bags, and people sometimes do just walk into a boutique off the street, ask nicely, and get lucky.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
But EVs are now mainstream in Europe and China, and the secondhand market is picking up pace, dragging devices like home chargers along with it.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Rising cost of living and higher prices for new clothes are driving more people to explore the secondhand market.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
To make the most of your day, head to the sprawling wonderland of the Saint-Ouen, where nearly 2,000 vendors comprise the largest secondhand market in the world.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
However, secondhand prices are much more comparable.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Inflation is giving the secondhand clothing industry a big boost.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Adverb
While there has been much controversy about the allegedly plummeting secondhand value of EVs, some of which is clearly a misunderstanding of finance and mathematics, there’s still some time to go before EVs hit mainstream affordability even secondhand.
—James Morris, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Indya is currently also exploring buying designer pieces secondhand or discounted as well from shops like The RealReal.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 19 Jan. 2024
Veterinarians are unsure if the illness spreads through a dog's direct contact with a sick dog or if the illness can be picked up secondhand, like through an item of clothing that has been in contact with a sick dog.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Much of the furniture was found secondhand, from sites like 1stdibs and Chairish, or repurposed from previous tenants.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2023
Sneakers are sold secondhand on websites like StockX, GOAT, and eBay for hundreds of dollars over their price on the primary market.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023
Others shop secondhand to reduce their environmental impact, extending the lifespan of existing items that might otherwise head to the landfill.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
The average price of a watch sold secondhand has fallen by 31% since March 11, 2022, after rising steadily for much of 2021, according to data from WatchCharts, a market research platform.
—By
amina Niasse, WSJ, 11 July 2023
Our experts also discourage shoppers from buying breast pumps secondhand for this very reason.
—Jamie Spain and Rachel Rothman, goodhousekeeping.com, 10 June 2023
Noun
The idea is to get the audience to focus on the second hand and assume that the coin was transferred.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2023
This action can result in the clock’s second hand appearing to remain stationary for more than a second.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 7 Dec. 2023
Constant force from the spring is what cases the second hand to move faster— appearing smoother—on an automatic watch than a quartz watch.
—Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 20 June 2023
The Economy Shop, which sold second hand clothing, accessories and home goods, was open three mornings per week.
—Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023
The movie’s main trope is the slow zoom in, which has the feel of a watch’s second hand ticking onscreen, conjuring urgency and a sense that time is rushing by at the speed of thought.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023
Unlike many rival investors, the former psych major’s willingness and ability to listen to founders’ fears without interjecting with second hand advice, or some business school case study, has won him a loyal, and now influential following.
—Iain Martin, Forbes, 5 May 2023
Beacon's Closet is a fixture of the New York second hand scene with a website that gives you access to the inventory of all four locations.
—Brad Lanphear, menshealth.com, 15 Apr. 2023
The key difference between a chronograph watch and all other watches is that the big second hand does not actually track seconds in real time.
—Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 27 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secondhand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near secondhand
Cite this Entry
“Secondhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondhand. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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