third-waveadj.
/θəːdˈweɪv/, U.S. /θərdˈweɪv/ Designating the third in a succession of related events, phases, movements, or groups of people; of or relating to such a phase, event, etc.
ΚΠ
1953 Public Opinion Q. 17 289/1 If we had utilized a third wave interview, our proportion of voters would probably have increased even further.
1987 M. Raeff in I. Yanovsky & V. S. Yanovsky tr. V. S. Yanovsky Elysian Fields Foreword p. xiv Not surprisingly, however, the Third Wave emigrés..have become interested in their predecessors of a generation ago.
2008 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 29 May 34/4 Al-Suri's new strategy neatly fits into the conception of ‘leaderless jihad’ or third-wave terrorism.
Compounds
third-wave feminism n. a period of diverse strands of feminist activity arising in the late 1980s, advocating continued political and social activism, and placing greater emphasis than second-wave feminism on inclusivity with regard to race, class, and sexuality, and individual freedom to define one's own identity; the movement associated with this period of activity.
ΚΠ
1987 M. Nyquist in M. Nyquist & M. W. Ferguson Re-membering Milton v. 99 It appears that one can now speak of ‘third-wave feminism’ as well as ‘post-feminist feminism’.
1993 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 19 Sept. 1/1 The primary difference between third-wave feminism and the nascent feminism of 25 years ago is the difference between women who came of age with the pill and women who came of age with AIDS.
2015 A. K. Householder in A. Trier-Bieniek Feminist Theory & Pop Culture ii. 21 While continuing to fight against structural inequalities, third wave feminism..challenged what it deems as the second wave's ‘essentialist’ definitions of gender.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1953