i Register
In some senses, secondhand is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.
secondhand
/ˌsɛk(ə)n(d)ˈhænd/
adj 4adv 2noun 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
growing, huge, professional
VERB + SECONDHAND
book, bought, buy, don't, effects, getting, heard, love
SECONDHAND + NOUN
ascertain, bookstore, car, computer, dealers, dozen, emotion, ideas
PREP.
in, in, into, on
ADV.
only, usually
Definitions
adj
1
Not new; previously owned and used by another.
2
Dealing in such merchandise.
3
Indirect; from a secondary source; not firsthand.
In the light of recent history it is somewhat curious that this decisive power of the professional secondhand dealers in ideas should not yet be more generally recognized.
What's love got to do, got to do with it? / What's love but a secondhand emotion?
4
Inhaled from the air near someone else smoking.
exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarette-smoking colleagues
noun
1
Secondhand goods (especially clothes) collectively.
Childrenswear is now the fastest growing sector of secondhand. […] The huge increase in the market for childrenswear shows another way in which older generations are getting into secondhand.
adv
1
In a used or previously-owned condition.
It was almost an article of faith with McEwen never to buy new if he could buy secondhand.
He glanced back at the Jeep, which he'd bought secondhand a dozen years ago and now, fifteen years old, was gaining on "classic" status.
2
Indirectly.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
adjective — previously used or owned by another
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
In the light of recent history it is somewhat curious that this decisive power of the professional secondhand dealers in ideas should not yet be more generally recognized.
Wiktionary02
What's love got to do, got to do with it? / What's love but a secondhand emotion?
Wiktionary03
So nearly every name comes from a second hand source. The exception to this rule has been the vigilantes themselves. Rube Mathis and Jack Wells, both admitted to participating, and Mathis identified h
Wiktionary04
Childrenswear is now the fastest growing sector of secondhand. […] The huge increase in the market for childrenswear shows another way in which older generations are getting into secondhand.
Wiktionary05
It was almost an article of faith with McEwen never to buy new if he could buy secondhand.
Wiktionary06
He glanced back at the Jeep, which he'd bought secondhand a dozen years ago and now, fifteen years old, was gaining on "classic" status.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
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