second-hand

 

adjective

  • 1(of goods) having had a previous owner; not new: a second-hand car
  • denoting a shop where second-hand goods can be bought: a second-hand bookshop
  • 2(of information or experience) accepted on another’s authority and not from original investigation: second-hand knowledge of her country

adverb

  • 1on the basis that something has had a previous owner: tips on the pitfalls to avoid when buying second-hand
  • 2on the basis of what others have said; indirectly: I was discounting anything I heard second-hand

Phrases

at second hand

by hearsay rather than direct observation or experience.