third person

[thurd pur-suhn]

noun

1. the grammatical person used by the speaker of an utterance in referring to anyone or anything other than the speaker or the one third person singular or ones third person plural being addressed.

2. a pronoun or verb form in the third person, as she or goes in English, or a set of such forms.

third person

noun

1. a grammatical category of pronouns and verbs used when referring to objects or individuals other than the speaker or his addressee(s)

Word History and Origins

Origin of third person¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

Austin, “suddenly and without any justification,” punched Seitz and knocked him down, then Austin, Hernandez and the unidentified third person proceeded “to beat and stomp on him while he was on the ground.”

From Los Angeles Times

While a third person films their work and a young girl watches, racial slurs are heard being shouted as a woman wearing a head scarf walks past with a child.

From BBC

The drone team turned its attention to the third person, who was stumbling through the brush and making a beeline for the Mexican border.

From Los Angeles Times

The help comes as a third person has been killed battling a wildfire in the north-west León region.

From BBC

Two people were found unresponsive and rescue crews were looking for a third person after a small plane crashed off the coast of Monterey County on Saturday night, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times