Difference between Secondhand and Secondary

What is the difference between Secondhand and Secondary?

Secondhand as an adjective is not new; previously owned and used by another while Secondary as an adjective is succeeding next in order to the first; of second place, origin, rank, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first order or rate.

Secondhand

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: not new; previously owned and used by another dealing in such merchandise

Part of speech: adverb

Definition: indirectly

Example sentence: People who cannot invent and reinvent themselves must be content with borrowed postures, secondhand ideas, fitting in instead of standing out.

Secondary

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: Succeeding next in order to the first; of second place, origin, rank, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first order or rate.Acting by deputation or delegated authority; as, the work of secondary hands.Possessing some quality, or having been subject to some operation (as substitution), in the second degree; as, a secondary salt, a secondary amine, etc. Cf. primary.Subsequent in origin; -- said of minerals produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rocks mass; also of characters of minerals (as secondary cleavage, etc.) developed by pressure or other causes.Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.Dependent or consequent upon another disease; as, Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever. (b) Occuring in the second stage of a disease; as, the secondary symptoms of syphilis.Of less than primary importance.

Part of speech: noun

Definition: Any flight feather attached to the ulna (forearm) of a bird.Any flight feather attached to the ulna (forearm) of a bird.An act of issuing more stock by an already publicly traded corporation.

Example sentence: Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward.

We hope you now know whether to use Secondhand or Secondary in your sentence.

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