Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for secondhand

secondhand

[ sek-uhnd-hand ]

adjective

  1. not directly known or experienced; obtained from others or from books:

    Most of our knowledge is secondhand.

  2. previously used or owned:

    secondhand clothes.

  3. dealing in previously used goods:

    a secondhand bookseller.



adverb

  1. after another user or owner:

    He bought it secondhand.

  2. indirectly; at second hand:

    He heard the news secondhand.

Discover More

Other Words From

  • second·handed·ness noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of secondhand1

First recorded in 1645–55; second 1 + hand

Discover More

Example Sentences

The last film most people probably remember of his was the underwhelming sexagenarian comedy Secondhand Lions back in 2003.

“I think if anybody saw real fame first or secondhand, they would not want to pursue it at all,” says a somber Culkin.

But recently—more than three decades after my initial reading—I picked up a secondhand copy of the out-of-print book.

Gordon picked up a pair secondhand and began to stencil then onto blank canvases with spray paint.

However studies have found dangerous compounds like benzene and formaldehyde in inhaled or secondhand vapor.

However, at secondhand, the details very shortly reached him.

A secondhand copy would be interesting not only for its material but for the price it would fetch.

Then there is a large, more or less cultured, public that know something of the science at secondhand through books.

It has already been pointed out that language is a means through which we can get experience secondhand.

Very good furniture can sometimes be obtained secondhand, but one must be on their guard against "bargains" that are worthless.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


second-guesssecondhand smoke