thirdhand
Americanadjective
-
previously used or owned by two successive people.
-
(loosely) secondhand, especially in poor condition.
-
obtained through two intermediates successively; twice removed from the original source.
adverb
-
after two other users or owners.
He bought the guitar thirdhand.
-
by way of several intermediate sources; indirectly.
Etymology
Origin of thirdhand
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One is the dense, dialect-heavy Gothic novel, 300-plus pages of exposition told second- or even thirdhand.
From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026
Mr. Zucker’s criticism may be painful for executives running CNN to hear second- and thirdhand.
From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2023
Ford said he “certainly did not” approve of the relationship between his daughter and Hagans, which he heard about second- or thirdhand because the woman didn’t tell him about it.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2022
The invitation came thirdhand, and the details were murky but intriguing.
From Scientific American • Feb. 7, 2022
“I don’t go around spouting faerie stories and touching iron. I’m here so I can learn the truth. So I can have information that comes from somewhere more reliable than thirdhand stories.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
