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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

The government had already dropped plans to include second hand cars in the ban, and now it has decided to scrap the policy altogether.

From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026

And that also means there's a big market for second hand spares.

From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026

A Timex watch with a second hand and a real leather band and numbers for regular time and numbers for military time.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

A woman who bought what she thought was a genuine Prada handbag second-hand on Vinted for £400 later discovered it was a fake.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

An expert who authenticates designer goods said she was aware of issues regarding second-hand luxury items sold online.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

An earlier version of this article incorrectly said it is a second-hand retail site.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

The Brooklyn, N.Y., company has already shed some weight this year, selling its second-hand clothing app Depop to Ebay in July.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

They could raise hems of second-hand dresses with stitches so tiny there was barely a line.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na