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• second hand
  second hand

  noun

  the hand that indicates the seconds on a clock or watch.
• second-hand
  second-hand

  adjective

  previously owned or used

second hand

American  

[sek-uhnd hand, sek-uhnd hand] / ˈsɛk ənd ˌhænd, ˈsɛk ənd ˈhænd /

noun

second hands plural

1. the hand that indicates the seconds on a clock or watch.

2. an assistant or helper, as to a worker or foreman.

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idioms

1. at second hand, from or through an intermediate source or means; secondhand.

   She had the news at second hand.

second-hand ¹ British  

adjective

1. previously owned or used

2. not from an original source or experience

3. dealing in or selling goods that are not new

   a second-hand car dealer

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adverb

1. from a source of previously owned or used goods

   he prefers to buy second-hand

2. not directly

   he got the news second-hand

second hand ² British  

noun

1. a pointer on the face of a timepiece that indicates the seconds Compare hour hand minute hand

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second hand More Idioms  

1. see at second hand.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• second hands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of second hand

1425–75 second hand for def. 3; 1750–60 second hand for def. 1; late Middle English

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

second hand second-hand

The hardworking mother of three daughters called Los Angeles home and collected much of the material for her work from the city’s many flea markets and second hand shops.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Its Birkin handbags continue to sell at a premium to retail prices in the second hand market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

They say this has also contributed to EVs failing to hold their value when they are sold second hand.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

Proposals to ban the importation of second hand petrol and diesel cars from 2030 have been scrapped by the Environment Minister.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

As if in answer, the pesky refrain bubbled to the surface of her whirling brain, in time to the soft click of the second hand marching ’round the clock face.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Treasure Factory, a Tokyo-based second-hand store operator, now has six stores in Thailand and three in Taiwan.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

He co-founded Football Rebooted, which rehomes second-hand donated boots, and is an ambassador of Goal2Grow, which sells donated football kits for £10 each.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

Under AUKUS, Australia's most expensive defence project, Canberra will buy three second-hand US submarines from 2032.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

While supported by a number of his remarkable drawings, the sculptural Michelangelo we see mostly second-hand, through copies, casts, and independent works made by several of his many followers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

Most of our tanks and trucks were more than second-hand by the time they reached us.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac