Definition of second-hand
1. secondhand [ a ] derived from what is primary or original; not firsthand
Examples:
"a secondhand report"
"a secondhand account of a memory of something once read"
"most of our knowledge is secondhand"
(James Boylan, "Mutinity"...)
For hundreds of years , the evidence available consisted_of ( 1 ) the captain 's fragmentary journal , ( 2 ) a highly prejudiced account by one of the survivors , ( 3 ) a note found in a dead man 's desk on_board , and ( 4 ) several second-hand reports .
Synonyms secondhand Related Terms secondary2. secondhand [ r ] by indirect means
Examples:
"I heard about it only secondhand or thirdhand"
"he prefers to buy secondhand"
(Dan McLachlan, Jr., "Communication Networks and...)
Information beyond nearest neighbor is carried second - , third - , and fourth hand as a distortable rumor .
Synonyms secondhand3. secondhand [ a ] previously used or owned by another
Examples:
"bought a secondhand (or used) car"
(Orlin J. Scoville, Part-Time Farming...)
You can keep your machinery investment down by buying good secondhand machinery , by sharing the cost and upkeep of machinery with a neighbor , and by hiring someone with machinery to do certain jobs .
Synonyms used secondhand pre-owned Related Terms oldSimilar Spelling
secondhandsecond_hand
secondly
seconder
second_wind
secondary
second-string
second_banana
secondment
second_reading
second_half
second_gear
second_fiddle
second_deck
second-rate
second_best
second_base
second-sighted
second-year
secondarily
secondguess
second-best
second_class
second_joint
second_power
Second_Reich
second_sight
second-class
second-guess
second-rater
seasoned
second_nature
second_period
second_person
second_growth
Second_Advent
second_estate
second_empire
second_sacker
second_cousin
Second_Coming
second_moment
