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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of hand-me-down

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

"Conversely, when brides were familiar with the story of the dress, like with a hand-me-down, they were far more positive about it and treated it more like treasure than a cursed item."

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

Martin, the 77-year-old in Glendale, has been sleeping on a waterbed since she got her first one as a hand-me-down from a friend.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

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

Players say they wear hand-me-down uniforms and are not provided with any name, image and likeness support.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023

She hadn’t showered in two days, her hair was a frizzy mess, and she was wearing hand-me-down clothes that were five sizes too big.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz