preloved

[pree-luhvd]

adjective

Informal.

1. previously used or owned; secondhand.

preloved

/ ˈpriːˌlʌvd /

adjective

1. informal,  previously owned or used; second-hand

Word History and Origins

Origin of preloved¹

pre- + loved

Example Sentences

Everything in the living room is “preloved,” including Zuse the cat.

From Los Angeles Times

Wearing preloved clothing carries memory forward and also calls us back.

From Los Angeles Times

In Glasgow city centre, rails and rails of preloved kid's clothing hang in a huge warehouse run by social enterprise, Apparel Xchange.

From BBC

The shop above Tenovus Cancer Care stocks hundreds of preloved donated wedding dresses and each sale raises money for the charity.

From BBC

And labels including the upscale Stella McCartney and Marine Serre, as well as Re/Done, Zero Waste Daniel and the Canadian company Preloved, have been built partly or entirely around upcycling.

From Seattle Times

When To Use

What does preloved mean?

Preloved is an informal word that describes an item that was previously owned.Preloved is a euphemism, which is a milder way to say something to make it less harsh or blunt. Preloved is typically used to describe something for sale to avoid calling it used or secondhand.Example: I prefer buying preloved dishes—they just have more character than the cheap new stuff they sell these days.