hand-me-down

American  

[hand-mee-doun, han-] / ˈhænd miˌdaʊn, ˈhæn- /

noun

1. an article of clothing passed on to another person after being used, outgrown, etc..

   The younger children wore the hand-me-downs of the older ones.

2. any item not new that is or can be used again.

   Our office furniture was a collection of hand-me-downs.

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adjective

1. passed along for further use by others.

   some hand-me-down clothes from my older brother.

2. borrowed or adapted from other sources; derivative.

   a street full of hand-me-down architecture.

hand-me-down British  

noun

1. 1. something, esp an outgrown garment, passed down from one person to another

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hand-me-down dress

2. 1. anything that has already been used by another

   2. ( as modifier )

      hand-me-down ideas

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Etymology

Origin of hand-me-down

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The chancellor could also offer partial payments, potentially getting smaller for each additional child to reflect that these children might use the same buggy as their siblings or hand-me-down clothes.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

I grew up wearing my older brother’s and older sister’s hand-me-down clothes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2025

It is one of the most deprived wards in the city and she recalls a childhood of hand-me-down clothes and poverty.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2024

Their 15-year-old hand-me-down Toyota Auris, nicknamed Martina, needs replacing.

From Reuters • Nov. 13, 2023

The mask was a hand-me-down, given to him by his father.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi