secondhand
Definition
Adjective:
- Previously owned or used by another person; not new: Describing an item that has had a prior owner, often implying it is available for purchase at a lower cost.
- Derived from an original or primary source; not direct: Describing information, knowledge, or experience that is obtained from someone else or another source, rather than firsthand.
Adverb:
- In an indirect manner; from a secondary source: Describing how information is acquired or how an item is obtained (i.e., in a used condition).
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- She bought a secondhand bicycle from the classified ads.
- His understanding of the event was based on secondhand accounts from witnesses.
- Adverb:
- I heard the news secondhand, so some details might be incorrect.
- They prefer to shop secondhand to save money and reduce waste.
Advanced Usage
- "Secondhand smoke": Smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is involuntarily inhaled by someone who is not smoking. (Note: This is a common compound noun where "secondhand" functions adjectivally).
- Laws prohibit smoking in restaurants to protect people from secondhand smoke.
- "Secondhand experience": Knowledge or understanding gained indirectly, not through personal participation.
- Through her stories, I had a secondhand experience of life in a different era.
Variants and Related Words
- Second-hand (adj/adv): An alternative hyphenated spelling with the same meaning.
- A second-hand bookshop.
- Used (adj): A common synonym when referring to goods; implies previous ownership.
- A used car dealership.
Synonyms
- Adjective (for goods): Pre-owned, hand-me-down, cast-off.
- Adjective (for information): Indirect, derivative, hearsay.
- Adverb: Indirectly.
Related Phrases
- At second hand: Functionally identical to the adverb "secondhand," meaning obtained indirectly.
- He learned of the incident at second hand.
- Get/Buy something secondhand: A common collocation describing the action of acquiring used goods.
- We got this table secondhand.
Related Idioms
- (To come) Secondhand: Often used to emphasize the indirect nature of information, sometimes implying it may be less reliable.
- The rumor came to me secondhand, so take it with a grain of salt.
Adjective
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previously used or owned by another
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bought a secondhand (or used) car
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derived from what is primary or original; not firsthand
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a secondhand report
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a secondhand account of a memory of something once read
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most of our knowledge is secondhand
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Adverb
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by indirect means
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I heard about it only secondhand or thirdhand
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he prefers to buy secondhand
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