(THURD sek.tur; TH as in thin)
n.
The part of the economy that includes charity and religious work, philanthropy, and volunteerism (cf. public sector and private sector).
Example Citation:
Governments can't do everything; the private sector can't or won't do things; so we need to think of how to shape the third sector so that it can.
— Patrick Johnston, Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, quoted in Andre Picard, "Governments can't do everything for society," The Toronto Star, November 15, 1997
Earliest Citation:
John D,. Rockefeller 3d was eulogized Thursday as a philanthropist, gentleman and humanlist whose death this week in an automobile crash cut short a life in which "there was so much more he wanted to do."
His only son West Virginia Gov. John D. "Jay" Rockefeller 4th told some 2,000 persons — including 70 family members — at a memorial service that his father was "dignified modest, some said shy" but that he spent his 72 years in service to the community nation and world. A leader in projects promoting international understanding Asian and American art and human rights the elder Rockefeller had completed arrangements last Friday for a two-year study of private non-profit organizations — "the third sector" his son said.
— Eileen Alt Powell, The Associated Press, July 13, 1978
Related Words:
Category:
New words. 2013.