third-party

1 of 2

adjective

third-par·​ty ˈthərd-ˈpär-tē 

1

: of, relating to, or involving a third party

third-party insurance

2

: of, relating to, or being software that is created by a vendor to be compatible with the products of another vendor

third party

2 of 2

noun

1

: a person other than the principals

a third party to a divorce proceeding

insurance against injury to third parties

2

a

: a major political party operating over a limited period of time in addition to two other major parties in a nation or state normally characterized by a two-party system

b

: minor party

Examples of third-party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The principles primarily focus around worker upskilling and protection, as well as cybersecurity and safety and come at a time when many companies have already begun implementing AI systems or partnering with third-party vendors to power a slew of different use cases. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024

For those looking for help with a certain element of the supply chain, engaging with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider could be sufficient for increasing efficiency. —Anar Mammadov, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

The move away from third-party cookies and an all-too-heavy reliance on third parties in general has accelerated this. —Greg Kihlstrom, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

In the scam, a third party gains a victims’ trust and, over time, convinces them to invest all of their money into cryptocurrency, which immediately disappears. —Martha Mendoza, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

third party

noun

1

: a person other than the main participants

a third party to the legal proceedings

2

a

: a political party operating usually for a limited time in addition to the two major parties in a 2-party system

b

: minor party

Legal Definition

third party

see party sense 1a, b