secondhand

1 of 4

adjective

sec·​ond·​hand ˈse-kən(d)-ˈhand How to pronounce secondhand (audio)
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)

: an intermediate person or means : intermediary
usually used in the phrase at second hand

second hand

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the hand marking seconds on a timepiece

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
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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of secondhand was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near secondhand

second hand

secondhand

secondhanded

Cite this Entry

“Secondhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondhand. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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