hand-me-down

adjective

ˈhan(d)-mē-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce hand-me-down (audio)
Synonyms of hand-me-downnext
1
: put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another
hand-me-down clothes
hand-me-down anecdotes
2
: ready-made and usually cheap and shoddy
hand-me-down noun

Examples of hand-me-down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And of course, jackets and pants are where hand-me-downs are perfectly fine. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 It was filled with hand-me-downs from family and friends, plus a mix of cheap, cheerful pieces that got the job done. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 Retail or hand-me-down, these unwanted gifts take up not just physical but emotional space as well. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 8 May 2026 Young musicians get their first guitar lots of different ways — as a hand-me-down, a birthday present or with cash earned from mowing grass. — Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand-me-down was in 1826

Rhymes for hand-me-down

See All Rhymes for hand-me-down

Browse Nearby Words

hand mating
hand-me-down
hand-minded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-me-down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hand-me-down

adjective
ˈhan(d)-mē-ˌdau̇n
: put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another
hand-me-down noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hand-me-down

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hand-me-down

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