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noun

third world country

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Third world country (noun) means a poor or economically underdeveloped country, typically one with weak infrastructure, low average income and limited public services. Now widely considered outdated and often offensive. Example: “Calling it a third world country ignores how fast its economy has grown.”

noun
1
dated, often offensive A poor or economically underdeveloped country, typically one with weak infrastructure, low average income and limited public services. Now widely considered outdated and often offensive.
"Calling it a third world country ignores how fast its economy has grown."
"The hospital had no running water, conditions you would expect in what people once called a third world country."
2
historical Originally, during the Cold War, a country aligned with neither the Western capitalist bloc nor the Soviet bloc, regardless of its wealth.
"In its original sense, third world country simply meant non-aligned, not poor."

How to use third world country

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old and now unpopular way of saying a poor country.

When to use it

Avoid in journalism, academic writing and business. It survives mostly in casual speech and in the hyperbolic sense of "this airport is third world", which is also best avoided.

Memory tip

If you need the noun form, it is "the third world"; "third-world" takes a hyphen when used as an adjective before a noun.

Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
developing country Global South first world problem
Common pairings
third world debt third world poverty third world conditions
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Calling it a _____ ignores how fast its economy has grown.

Etymology

A translation of French tiers monde, "third world", used during the Cold War to distinguish nations aligned with neither the Western nor the Soviet bloc. The economic meaning developed later, as most non-aligned states were poor.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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developing country low-income country Global South nation emerging economy

Antonyms

developed country first world country industrialised nation

Rhymes for third world country

country
See all rhymes for third world country →

Frequently asked questions

Why is "third world country" considered offensive?
Because the term has drifted from its Cold War political meaning into a blanket label for poverty, and it flattens dozens of very different countries into one stereotype of squalor. Development bodies now prefer "developing country", "low-income country" or "Global South".
What is the difference between first, second and third world?
In the original Cold War scheme, the first world was the United States and its allies, the second world was the Soviet Union and its allies, and the third world was everyone unaligned. The "second world" label largely vanished after 1991, which is why only "first" and "third" survived in casual speech, and why the surviving pair now reads purely as rich versus poor.
What should I say instead?
Use "developing country" in general writing, "low-income country" or "lower-middle-income country" if you want the World Bank's actual classification, or name the country. "Global South" works when discussing geopolitics rather than income.
What is the meaning of third world country?
"third world country" (noun) means a poor or economically underdeveloped country, typically one with weak infrastructure, low average income and limited public services. Now widely considered outdated and often offensive.