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

• derivative
• secondary

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

And secondhand shopping also scratches another itch for younger shoppers: sustainability. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

But, depending on the brand, cast iron skillets could be worth actual dollars on the secondhand market. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025

Adverb

Dabney is among a group of solar shoppers in the US who opt to buy them secondhand, often through listings on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025

Meyers, of Minnesota, is 38-years-old now and still buys most things secondhand. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

Noun

The latest Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Insights 2024, also notes that independents, just like the second hand market, are where the buzz is. —Stéphane Jg Girod, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Click here for important updates to our privacy policy. SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability Like their grandparents, the thrill for Gen Z shoppers at second hand stores is in hunt. —Kinsey Gidick, USA Today, 26 Mar. 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