Secondhand (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Derived from what is primary or original; not firsthand; "a secondhand report"; "a secondhand account of a memory of something once read"; "most of our knowledge is secondhand".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- Most of our historical knowledge comes from secondhand accounts written by those who weren't directly involved in the events.
- A secondhand description of the city was all she had to go by, since she had never visited before.
- The news was spread through secondhand rumors rather than direct confirmation.
- She had a secondhand understanding of the culture, gained through stories from her friends who had lived there.
- Many of the details of the case are based on secondhand testimony from witnesses who didn't see the events firsthand.
Meaning 2
Previously used or owned by another; "bought a secondhand (or used) car".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- She bought a secondhand bicycle from her neighbor for a reasonable price.
- The charity store sells secondhand clothing and donates the proceeds to a local hospital.
- He decided to buy a secondhand computer to save money on his latest project.
- The family opted for a secondhand furniture set to furnish their new home on a tight budget.
- You can often find great deals on secondhand books at garage sales during the summer.