third-rate
Americanadjective
-
of the third rate, quality, or class.
-
distinctly inferior.
a third-rate performance.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- third-rater noun
Etymology
Origin of third-rate
First recorded in 1640–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“They told me he was a third-rate hedge fund guy who didn’t know what he was talking about.”
From Literature
It was third-rate stuff, with apologies to third-rate.
From BBC
In December, he made similar claims about the three public figures, calling Sharpton a “third-rate con man.”
From Salon
Nearly all season the Blues have walked over their opposition in Uefa's third-rate tournament, but they were really tested by Real Betis in Wroclaw, especially in the first half.
From BBC
"I kind of ditched them. I started listening to what A&R or the record labels felt they had slots for. I was called a third-rate Pat Benatar. I was probably a fifth-rate Pat Benatar."
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
