third way

plural third ways

1. An approach or solution which strives for an alternative to or middle ground between two opposing viewpoints.First known use 17th c.

   It is a place of no compromise, thought Guillam, a place of no third way.

   1979, John Le Carré, Smiley's People, Folio Society, published 2010, page 358

   Synonyms: via media

2. governmentAn ideology which seeks to find middle ground between right- and left-wing politics, associated during the 1990s with various centre-left political parties in Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.First known use 20th c.

   He believes the left must be radical—the opposite of the social democratic left or “Third Way” politics espoused by Bill Clinton and later Tony Blair, which he says betrayed the people to side with big business and the wealthy.

   2025 May 3, Leila Abboud, “Lunch with the FT: Jean-Luc Mélenchon”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see third, way.

1. Alternative letter-case form of third way.