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
Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Is secondhand about to become the default destination for aspirational luxury buyers?
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for secondhand 
Adjective
By next year, ThredUp predicts, 10% of the global apparel market is expected to be made up of secondhand items.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Is secondhand about to become the default destination for aspirational luxury buyers?
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 Mar. 2024
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 5 May. 2024.
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