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

Twice she tried to change subject at Oxford; barred from doing so she came away with a lowly third-class degree.

From The Daily Beast

For that matter, there is nothing alarming about that in Scotland, their third-class carriages are superior to our French seconds.

From Project Gutenberg

He then hurried to his room and put on his military clothes—they were those of a third-class military officer.

From Project Gutenberg

Two second- or third-class ships—and they not even properly found or armed—are all she possesses.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Gerard took care of many of these cases herself and saw to it that they were provided with third-class tickets.

From Project Gutenberg

I want to photograph you with the third-class passengers, then the second-class, and have you shown playing games on deck.

From Project Gutenberg