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
: an intermediate person or means : intermediary
usually used in the phrase at second hand
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Elsewhere, Reformation have lent into initiatives to engage customers on the environmental impact of clothing, including a collaboration with Poshmark to buy and sell secondhand garments. Amy Nguyen, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 The secondhand market is maintaining its momentum going into the new year. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Dec. 2024
Adverb
That’s because Truss uses AI to decrease the amount of time needed to classify and identify products being sold secondhand. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 Because each of them lives in exile, their homeland is accessible only secondhand, through anecdotes and their family’s memories. Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
The chronograph second hand, as is customary, is centrally mounted and on this watch bears a varnished orange airplane shape at its tip. Chris Hall, WIRED, 10 Dec. 2024 Here, West can’t lose anything and may gain by playing his king, second hand high, on the first club. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 16 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for secondhand 

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-guess

secondhand

second hand

Cite this Entry

“Secondhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondhand. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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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