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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

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

As a car enthusiast who had bought second hand cars before, Mr Maljian believed he had taken every precaution.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025

For second hand cars, online marketplace Autotrader says it's "seeing plenty of examples where electric cars are the same price or lower than similar petrol models, specifically in the three to five-year age group".

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025

The professor moved the second hand to the griffin and the third to the dolphin.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman