third worlder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Potentially offensive
Quick answer
What does “third worlder” mean?
A person who is a native or inhabitant of a developing country, typically in Asia, Africa, or Latin America.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is a native or inhabitant of a developing country, typically in Asia, Africa, or Latin America.
A term, now often considered dated or pejorative, referring to someone from a nation that is economically underdeveloped and often politically non-aligned. The term originated during the Cold War.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties with similar meaning and similar declining frequency. There is no significant syntactic or morphological difference.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is associated with Cold War-era political analysis and is increasingly avoided due to its negative and homogenizing connotations.
Frequency
Frequency is low and declining in both British and American English as awareness of the term's problematic nature has grown.
Grammar
How to Use “third worlder” in a Sentence
ADJ + third worlderthird worlder + VERBVERB + third worlderVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “third worlder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You cannot 'third worlder' someone; the term is not a verb.
American English
- The term 'third worlder' functions only as a noun.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial form exists.
American English
- There is no adverb derived from 'third worlder'.
adjective
British English
- The adjective form is 'third world', as in 'third world conditions'. 'Third worlder' is a noun.
American English
- The associated adjective is 'third-world' (often hyphenated), e.g., 'third-world poverty'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Generally avoided in modern business language; considered imprecise and potentially insensitive when discussing emerging markets.
Academic
Largely obsolete in contemporary academic discourse (development studies, political science). Scholars use more precise terms like 'Global South', 'least developed countries (LDCs)', or specify regions/nations.
Everyday
May still be heard in older speech but is increasingly recognized as inappropriate. Its use can signal outdated views.
Technical
Not used in technical fields like economics or sociology due to its imprecise and value-laden nature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “third worlder”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “third worlder”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “third worlder”
- Using it as a neutral descriptor in modern writing.
- Assuming it is synonymous with 'poor person' (it refers to nationality/geography, not individual economic status).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is widely considered dated, imprecise, and potentially offensive or patronising as it lumps diverse populations into a single, often negatively perceived, category. It is best avoided.
Use more specific and neutral terms. Refer to the person's nationality (e.g., a Ghanaian) or use broader but more accepted phrases like 'a person from a developing country', 'a resident of a low-income nation', or contextually, 'Global Southerner'.
It was coined during the Cold War (circa 1952) to describe nations that were not aligned with either the capitalist 'First World' (NATO) or the communist 'Second World' (Soviet bloc). Its meaning later shifted to focus on economic development.
No, it is not considered appropriate for contemporary academic writing. Scholars in fields like development studies, political science, and economics use more precise and less value-laden terminology.
A person who is a native or inhabitant of a developing country, typically in Asia, Africa, or Latin America.
Third worlder is usually informal, potentially offensive in register.
Third worlder: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːd ˈwɜːldə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɜrd ˈwɜrldər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Third World conditions (often used metaphorically for poor living standards)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Cold War map: First (West), Second (East), Third (the rest). 'Third worlder' refers to someone from that 'rest of the world' bloc.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE WORLD IS DIVIDED INTO TIERS (First, Second, Third). PEOPLE ARE LABELLED BY THEIR TIER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST acceptable modern alternative to 'third worlder' in formal writing?