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 of secondhand

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

But thrifting’s appeals wider, considering that approximately one-third of the clothing that was purchased in the past year was secondhand, according to CapitalOne Shopping Research. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025

But running an independent bookstore where new, not secondhand, books are sold is, well, novel. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025

Adverb

Before then, my knowledge of Nigeria came secondhand—from family, college, and the media. —Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025

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

Noun

The four rotating arms on the Nebulaz ride whirred furiously like the inner workings of a clock — and made less noise than a ticking second hand on a watch. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025

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

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