preowned
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does preowned mean? Preowned refers to something that has been previously owned by someone else or has already had at least one previous owner. Preowned is sometimes spelled pre-owned. Preowned is a euphemism, which is a milder way to say something to make it less harsh or blunt. Preowned is typically used to describe something for sale to avoid calling it used or secondhand. A nicer way to say something was owned previously is to call it preloved. Example: I couldn’t afford a new car so I bought a preowned one.
Etymology
Origin of preowned
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Smead described eBay as “the New York Stock Exchange of preowned items,” raking in ‘‘loads of money” from transaction fees.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
The watch brand’s certified preowned program did more than $500 million in sales last year, according to estimates from data-analytics firm WatchCharts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
A growing consensus in the industry is that brands should set strict rules for their official preowned programs, but let others run them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
Amazon.com and Ford Motor announced that certified preowned Ford vehicles are now available on Amazon Autos.
From Barron's • Nov. 17, 2025
That’s what everybody said as they flashed warm smiles and showed us their preowned clothing, Christmas decorations, jewelry, and whatnots.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
