preowned

American  

[pree-ohnd] / priˈoʊnd /

Or pre-owned

adjective

1. previously owned; used; secondhand.

   a sale of preowned furs.

---

preowned British  

/ ˌpriːˈəʊnd /

adjective

1. euphemistic already used; second-hand

---

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

First recorded in 1960–65; pre- + own + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Three years ago, the Swiss brand launched an official certified preowned program.

From The Wall Street Journal

An insight from the program is that consumers will pay 28% more on average for a preowned watch that has been certified genuine by Rolex than one that hasn’t, according to Morgan Stanley.

From The Wall Street Journal

When luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet launched a preowned program and set the prices itself, it caused a backlash with consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Keeping the preowned program at a distance is easier for Rolex because more than 90% of its sales happen through third-party retailers.

From The Wall Street Journal