third: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral; used across all registers from informal to highly formal.
Quick answer
What does “third” mean?
Constituting the number three in a sequence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Constituting the number three in a sequence; the ordinal form of three.
One of three equal parts of a whole (1/3); also refers broadly to a position following the second.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling of derived adverbs: 'thirdly' (both), but BrE may hyphenate 'third-party' more frequently. No significant lexical differences.
Connotations
In UK legal contexts, 'third party' insurance is standard terminology. In US sports, 'third down' is a key American football term.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “third” in a Sentence
[be] + the + third + to INFINITIVE (She was the third to arrive)a third of + NOUN PHRASE (A third of the cake)the third + NOUN (the third house on the left)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “third” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee voted to third the motion, putting it to a final vote.
adverb
British English
- He finished third in the London marathon.
American English
- Our team ranked third nationally.
adjective
British English
- She took the third exit on the roundabout.
American English
- His third-down conversion saved the game.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to quarters (Q3), external contractors (third-party vendors), or outsourcing.
Academic
Used in citations (e.g., 'thirdly,'), rankings, and statistical analysis (top third).
Everyday
Describing sequence (birthday, floor, place in queue), fractions (cut it into thirds).
Technical
In music (third interval), engineering (third harmonic), or baseball/softball (third base).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “third”
- Incorrect fraction phrasing: 'She ate the third of the pizza' (should be 'a third').
- Overusing 'thirdly' as a discourse marker where 'finally' or 'furthermore' is better.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In running text, spell out 'third'. '3rd' is acceptable in tables, charts, or informal notes.
Rarely. In formal or archaic contexts (e.g., parliamentary procedure), 'to third' means to support a motion already seconded. Not common in everyday use.
'A third' refers to one of three equal parts (a fraction). 'The third' refers to a specific item in a sequence (ordinal position).
In British English, it's a long vowel /ɜː/ as in 'bird'. In American English, it's an r-colored vowel /ɝː/, where the 'r' sound is strongly pronounced.
Constituting the number three in a sequence.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Third time's the charm”
- “Third wheel”
- “On third thought”
- “Give someone the third degree”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the word 'THIRD' has three letters in its core: 'THI' (3 letters), reminding you it's about number three.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS RANK (e.g., 'first' is best, 'third' is less so); FRACTIONS ARE PARTS (e.g., 'a third of my heart').
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'third wheel', what does 'third' imply?