third class

¹

noun

1. the class, grade, or rank immediately below the second.
2. the least costly class of accommodations on trains, in hotels, etc. Compare tourist class.
3. (in the U.S. Postal Service) the class of mail consisting of merchandise weighing up to 16 ounces, and written or printed material, as books, manuscripts, or circulars, not sealed against postal inspection.
4. the lowest of three honors degrees conferred by a British university.

third-class

²

[ thurd-klas, -klahs ]

adjective

1. of the lowest or poorest class or quality; inferior.
2. least costly and luxurious:

   a third-class coach.

adverb

1. by third-class mail or passenger accommodations:

   to travel third-class.

third class

noun

1. the class or grade next in value, quality, etc, to the second

adjective

1. of the class or grade next in value, quality, etc, to the second
2. of or denoting the class of accommodation in a hotel, on a ship, etc, next in quality and price to the second: usually the cheapest
3. (in the US and Canada) of or relating to a class of mail consisting largely of unsealed printed matter
4. See third

adverb

1. by third-class mail, transport, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of third class¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Origin of third class²

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The wealthy first-class passengers were given silver service for their meals - but in third class, it was a different story.

From BBC

But on Thursday, officials announced that they had used advanced forensic technology to identify one of them as David Walker, a 19-year-old mess attendant third class from Norfolk, Va.

From New York Times

"On occasion, you get treated like a third class citizen" and in a "patronising, off-hand manner", she says.

From BBC

“Which trunk did you steal those from? Cost more than a third class ticket, I’d say.”

From Literature

First, second and third class travel was provided for conformists, and another section with the same classes for non-conformists.

From BBC