third class

See also: third-class

English

Alternative forms

• third-class, 3rd-class, 3rd class

Adjective

third class (not comparable)

1. Alternative spelling of third-class.

Noun

third class (countable and uncountable, plural third classes)

1. (US) A reduced-rate mail service for printed matter.
2. (travel) A class of accommodation in travel below second class.

   Near-synonym: (aviation) economy class

   1. (UK, historical) The cheapest accommodation on a train or ship.

      Hyponym: steerage

      • 1940 December, O. S. M. Raw, “The Rhodesia Railways—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 640:

        Mail trains are limited to first and second class passengers, but on the mixed trains third class is also provided, and this is patronised exclusively by natives.

      • 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 46:

        Mayhew's survey found that 69 per cent of Met travellers went by third class, 20.5 per cent second, 10.5 per cent first. The Met would abolish second class in 1905 at the time of electrification.

      • 2023 February 8, Conrad Landin, “Bon appetit: 150 years of railway dining”, in RAIL, number 976, page 47:

        Allport's decision in 1872 to abolish Second Class on the Midland and effectively upgrade Third Class to the standards of Second, most notably with upholstered seating, sent shockwaves through the Victorian railway.

Related terms

• 1st class, first class
• 2nd class, second class
• 4th class, fourth class
• 5th class, fifth class

Translations

cheapest accomodation on a train or ship

• French: troisième classe (fr) f

References

• “third class”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.