Second hand or secondhand?
second hand is an adjective meaning “Alternative form of secondhand”; secondhand is an adjective meaning “Not new; previously owned and used by another”. second hand is written as two words and secondhand as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between second hand and secondhand?
| second hand | secondhand | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective, noun | adjective, noun, adverb |
| Meaning | An intermediate person or means; intermediary On the clock face of a clock or watch, the hand (pointer) that shows the number of seconds that have passed | Not new; previously owned and used by another Dealing in such merchandise Secondhand goods (especially clothes) collectively |
| Example | none recorded | exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarette-smoking colleagues |
| Pronunciation | /ˌsɛkənd ˈhænd/ /ˈsɛkənd ˌhænd/ | /ˌsɛk(ə)n(d)ˈhænd/ /ˈsɛk(ə)n(d)ˌhænd/ |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | 1.1 times per million words |
Sources: second hand and secondhand in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of second hand and secondhand
second hand
- 1
Alternative form of secondhand
- 2
An intermediate person or means; intermediary
- 3
On the clock face of a clock or watch, the hand (pointer) that shows the number of seconds that have passed
- 4
Alternative spelling of secondhand
secondhand
- 1
Not new; previously owned and used by another
- 2
Secondhand goods (especially clothes) collectively
- 3
In a used or previously-owned condition
- 4
Dealing in such merchandise
- 5
Indirectly
- 6
Indirect; from a secondary source; not firsthand
- 7
Inhaled from the air near someone else smoking
exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarette-smoking colleagues
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, second hand or secondhand?
second hand is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; secondhand 1.1 times per million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).