secondhand

1 of 4

adjective

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

secondhand

2 of 4

adverb

1

: at second hand : indirectly

heard about it secondhand

2

: as a secondhand item

bought the couch secondhand

second hand

3 of 4

noun (1)

ˌse-kən(d)-ˈhand 

: an intermediate person or means : intermediary

—usually used in the phrase at second hand

second hand

4 of 4

noun (2)

ˈsek-ən(d)-ˌhand 

: the hand marking seconds on a timepiece

Synonyms

Adjective

• secondary
• derivative

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

Adjective

Then, that fall, someone began a campaign to bring new attention to the months-old, secondhand reports about Khan. —David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025

Upholstered Furniture Unlike damage furniture, buying secondhand upholstered pieces isn't as frowned upon, but Morse recommends looking over each piece with a careful eye to determine if this item will be a good investment. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025

Adverb

Here’s how industry experts and fashion-forward shoppers shop secondhand sustainably — and how to find quality pieces that last while looking cool, too. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

That section of the site helps users quickly access items that fit emerging trends, in an effort to engage them in purchasing trending items secondhand rather than new via fast-fashion companies. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025

Noun

The pilot watch’s dial features a team’s primary color, like the Detroit Lions’s Honolulu Blue, and the second hand its secondary color—in this case, silver. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2025

One-hand dispensing The majority of coffee urns require one hand to hold the cup and the second hand to operate the lever on the spout. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1759, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing secondhand

• secondhand smoke

Rhymes for secondhand

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

secondhand

1 of 2 adjective

sec·​ond·​hand

ˌsek-ən-ˈhand

1

: not original : taken from someone else

secondhand reports

2

a

: having had a previous owner

a secondhand car

b

: selling used goods

a secondhand store

secondhand adverb

second hand

2 of 2 noun

: the hand marking seconds on a timepiece