third party
/θɜːrd ˈpɑːr.ti/
Very CommonAttacking a team that is already fighting someone else, entering their fight as an uninvited third side.
Tone is almost always negative when directed at someone else. Considered cheap by some, smart by others. The debate over whether it is legitimate strategy or bad sportsmanship is a running discussion in most BR communities.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | we had them down to one and got third partied by a full squad | A fresh enemy team attacked right as the current fight was about to be won. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | this game is literally just third party simulator | Constant uninvited pile-ons make fights feel pointless. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | heard shots and waited, walked in for the cleanup after they third partied each other | Multiple squads weakened each other and the speaker finished them all. | youtube, 2024 |
| 04 | if you're not third partying you're leaving free kills on the table | The speaker views it as a valid competitive strategy. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- A third team jumps into a fight already in progress.
- Complaining that you got attacked while already in a fight.
- Explaining a strategic decision to enter an ongoing engagement.
- Describing opportunistic play in any team-vs-team game.
Do not use it when
- You attacked a team that wasn't already in a fight.Use “pushing” instead.
- You are describing any flanking or ambush.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
The term adapted the legal concept of 'third party' into gaming vocabulary within battle royale communities. It became a common callout in Fortnite and Apex Legends streams around 2018 to 2019.
- First seen
- 2018
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/third-party-gamingUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0