third culture kid en · NOUN
Etymology
Coined by American sociologist and anthropologist Ruth Hill Useem in the 1950s. "Third culture" refers to a distinct way of life different from those of the birth or host countries, but common to fellow expats.
Meanings
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A young person who has lived for a significant period outside their birth (or passport) country due to parental work-related migration.
In 1984, Dr. Ted Ward, then a sociologist at Michigan State University, predicted in a plenary talk at the International Conference for Missionary Kids (ICMK) in Manila that third culture kids were the prototype citizens of the future.
2009, David C. Pollock, Ruth E. Van Reken, Third culture kids: growing up among worlds, page xii:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| third-culture kid | alternative | lexicographic | |
| third culture kids | Number=Plur | lexicographic |