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
Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2023
Check for signs of structural damage When buying secondhand furniture, the first thing to do is to check for any damages.
—Popular Science, 3 Aug. 2023
Browse Newsletters Sewing skills open up the possibilities of secondhand shopping.
—Ann Friedman, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2023
The wonderful thing about London is the secondhand book shops.
—Amy Sutherland, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
The sick passenger was asked to find a change of clothes in her carry-on bag while the rest of the cabin managed their secondhand queasiness.
—Natalie B. Compton, Andrea Sachs and Heidi Pérez-Moreno, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2023
But how safe is direct and secondhand cannabis smoke?
—Beth Cohen, University Of California, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2023
Animal studies on the effects of secondhand tobacco and cannabis smoke show similar concerning effects on the cardiovascular system.
—Beth Cohen, The Conversation, 30 Aug. 2023
That’s why secondhand fashion stylists are marketing their services on social media to handle the job.
—Paige Hagy, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023
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
But according to sources who have heard about the talks secondhand, discussions between the DGA and AMPTP appear to be progressing in a collaborative way.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 May 2023
If nothing else, Smith implored his fans to avoid buying tickets secondhand from scalpers.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2023
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
The Horizontal Bass Hold As noted above, the horizontal hold is an especially good one for larger fish, because the use of a second hand ensures that the fish weight is supported.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 12 July 2023
Wherever the second hand falls, determines his decision on that particular issue.
—Kwame Christian, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
See More
Adjective
While some brides opt to save money by buying secondhand wedding dresses, other couples settle on DIY weddings to cut costs.
—Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2023
Check for signs of structural damage When buying secondhand furniture, the first thing to do is to check for any damages.
—Popular Science, 3 Aug. 2023
Browse Newsletters Sewing skills open up the possibilities of secondhand shopping.
—Ann Friedman, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2023
The wonderful thing about London is the secondhand book shops.
—Amy Sutherland, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
The sick passenger was asked to find a change of clothes in her carry-on bag while the rest of the cabin managed their secondhand queasiness.
—Natalie B. Compton, Andrea Sachs and Heidi Pérez-Moreno, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2023
But how safe is direct and secondhand cannabis smoke?
—Beth Cohen, University Of California, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2023
Animal studies on the effects of secondhand tobacco and cannabis smoke show similar concerning effects on the cardiovascular system.
—Beth Cohen, The Conversation, 30 Aug. 2023
That’s why secondhand fashion stylists are marketing their services on social media to handle the job.
—Paige Hagy, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023
Adverb
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
But according to sources who have heard about the talks secondhand, discussions between the DGA and AMPTP appear to be progressing in a collaborative way.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 May 2023
If nothing else, Smith implored his fans to avoid buying tickets secondhand from scalpers.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2023
Noun
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
The Horizontal Bass Hold As noted above, the horizontal hold is an especially good one for larger fish, because the use of a second hand ensures that the fish weight is supported.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 12 July 2023
Wherever the second hand falls, determines his decision on that particular issue.
—Kwame Christian, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
See More
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.
Word History
Phrases Containing secondhand
Dictionary Entries Near secondhand
Cite this Entry
“Secondhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondhand. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
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
More from Merriam-Webster on secondhand
Nglish: Translation of secondhand for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of secondhand for Arabic Speakers
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