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
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2024
By Armani Syed May 30, 2024 7:39 AM EDT
Since its founding in 2011, secondhand clothing marketplace Depop has succeeded in one thing above all else: making circular fashion cool.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 30 May 2024
James Morris, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Indya is currently also exploring buying designer pieces secondhand or discounted as well from shops like The RealReal.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 19 Jan. 2024
Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
The idea is to get the audience to focus on the second hand and assume that the coin was transferred.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for secondhand 
Adjective
Score secondhand treasures at a fraction of their original cost.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2024
By Armani Syed May 30, 2024 7:39 AM EDT
Since its founding in 2011, secondhand clothing marketplace Depop has succeeded in one thing above all else: making circular fashion cool.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 30 May 2024
Adverb
While there has been much controversy about the allegedly plummeting secondhand value of EVs, some of which is clearly a misunderstanding of finance and mathematics, there’s still some time to go before EVs hit mainstream affordability even secondhand.
—James Morris, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Indya is currently also exploring buying designer pieces secondhand or discounted as well from shops like The RealReal.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 19 Jan. 2024
Noun
When you first glance at a clock, the second hand seems to pause before continuing its regular movement because your brain is overestimating how long the second hand is in that position.
—Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
The idea is to get the audience to focus on the second hand and assume that the coin was transferred.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for secondhand
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.
Dictionary Entries Near secondhand
Cite this Entry
“Secondhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secondhand. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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