third place
/θɜːrd pleɪs/
CommonA regular social space that is neither home nor work, where people gather informally.
Online use often laments the lack of a third place rather than celebrating one. Frequently paired with comments about modern urban design making them harder to find.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | i think the reason i feel so untethered is i genuinely have no third place | The absence of a regular social space outside home and work is causing a sense of disconnection. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | found my third place. it's a laundromat that sells espresso and nobody bothers you | A simple, low-pressure spot became a reliable social anchor. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 03 | american suburbs were designed with no third places on purpose and it shows | Suburban design actively removed the informal social spaces people need. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | my gym is my third place. i don't even really like working out i just need to go somewhere | The gym fills the social function of a third place even if fitness is not the primary motivation. | x, 2025 |
Use it when
- Describing a place outside home and work where you feel socially comfortable.
- Lamenting that your city or lifestyle has no such space.
- Discussing urban design, walkability, or the decline of community spaces.
- Explaining why a local spot matters to you personally.
Do not use it when
- You just mean your favorite hangout spot with no social community dimension.
Origin and context
Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book 'The Great Good Place'. Gained widespread internet use in the 2020s as people began discussing the decline of casual community spaces and rising social isolation.
- First seen
- 1989
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/third-placeUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0