secondhand

American  

[sek-uhnd-hand] / ˈsɛk əndˈhænd /

adjective

1. not directly known or experienced; obtained from others or from books.

   Most of our knowledge is secondhand.

2. previously used or owned.

   secondhand clothes.

3. dealing in previously used goods.

   a secondhand bookseller.

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adverb

1. after another user or owner.

   He bought it secondhand.

2. indirectly; at second hand.

   He heard the news secondhand.

Other Word Forms

• secondhandedness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of secondhand

First recorded in 1645–55; second ¹ + hand

Explanation

Anything that's secondhand has been used before. Your secondhand boots may look brand new, but they were owned by someone else before you bought them. Things that aren't new are secondhand, so you might buy a secondhand car from your grandma or shop at a secondhand clothing store to get good deals. You can also use this adjective to mean "not from an original or primary source." If your sister tells you that her best friend told her that he saw a famous movie star at the coffee shop, that's secondhand information.

Example Sentences

Secondhand hauls can still be bad for the planet, says Peleg Mizrachi: “Once we’re buying a lot in a high volume, there’s an environmental price to that.”

From Slate • Jan. 26, 2026

Secondhand assets have gained popularity this year stemming from a lack of fund distributions back to their investors after years of stalled exits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

Secondhand smoke exposure can cause a variety of ailments, including heart disease, stroke and lung cancer, federal health officials say.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024

Secondhand clothing is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global fashion marketplace, as consumers seek out affordable, eco-friendly alternatives to fast fashion.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2022

Secondhand cars left us hitchhiking on the side of the freeway.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah