third party: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Legal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “third party” mean?
A person or group involved in a situation or dispute who is not one of the two main or principal parties.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or group involved in a situation or dispute who is not one of the two main or principal parties.
Any entity external to a primary two-party relationship, often providing a service, verification, or intermediary role; also refers to software or components developed by someone other than the original manufacturer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. In legal contexts, both use identically. 'Third-party' as an adjective is universally hyphenated.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in general British use; equally common in business/tech contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in legal, insurance, business, and tech contexts in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “third party” in a Sentence
[subject] involves/hires/contracts a third party[subject] is verified/audited by a third partya third party [verb] between/for [parties]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “third party” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We decided to third-party the logistics to cut costs.
- (Note: Verb use is rare and jargonistic in business/tech)
American English
- The company will third-party its customer service operations.
adverb
British English
- The contract was verified third-party. (Rare, often rephrased as 'by a third party')
American English
- The software was developed third-party. (Rare)
adjective
British English
- We need a third-party assessment for compliance.
- Do you have third-party cover on your motor insurance?
American English
- All third-party plugins must be verified for security.
- He works for a third-party vendor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to external suppliers, service providers, or auditors not directly employed by the company.
Academic
Used in law, economics, and political science to denote an actor outside a dyadic relationship.
Everyday
Common in discussions about insurance, car repairs ("third-party cover"), or tech ("downloading third-party apps").
Technical
In computing: software libraries, plugins, or hardware from an independent developer. In law: someone with enforceable rights or liabilities under a contract they did not sign.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “third party”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “third party”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “third party”
- Writing as one word: 'thirdparty'.
- Using 'third part' (which means a segment/fraction).
- Omitting the hyphen when used as a compound adjective: e.g., 'third party verification' should be 'third-party verification'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun (third-party software). As a noun, it is not hyphenated (we brought in a third party).
An external consultant is a type of third party. 'Third party' is a broader legal/categorical term; an external consultant is a specific role. All external consultants are third parties, but not all third parties are consultants (e.g., software, an insurer).
A political party other than the two major parties dominating the system (e.g., in the US, other than Democrats and Republicans).
Yes, commonly. For example, a mediator, an arbitrator, an independent witness, or a beneficiary of a contract can all be referred to as a third party.
A person or group involved in a situation or dispute who is not one of the two main or principal parties.
Third party is usually formal, business, legal, technical in register.
Third party: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːd ˈpɑːti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɜrd ˈpɑːrti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms; the term itself is a fixed compound noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a couple arguing. The friend they ask for advice is the THIRD PARTY – not the first (one person) or second (the other), but the external third.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RELATIONSHIP IS A CONTRACT (involving primary parties; a third party is an external signatory or beneficiary).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'third party' LEAST likely to be used?