trifecta

noun

tri·​fec·​ta trī-ˈfek-tə 

ˈtrī-ˌfek-

1

: triple sense 1b

achieved a show-business trifecta : a platinum record, hit TV series, and an Oscar

2

: a variation of the perfecta in which a bettor wins by selecting the first three finishers of a race in the correct order of finish

Did you know?

Where does trifecta come from?

Trifecta is a recent addition to the English language. It first appeared in the early 1970s as a term for a horse-racing bet in which the first, second, and third place finishers are chosen in the correct order.

The word has since broadened in meaning: it can now also refer to a group of three (usually desirable) things (such as “the trifecta of curing cancer, ending hunger, and putting an end to war"). It is found in everything from advertisements to media company names to casual speech.

Trifecta combines the prefix tri- (meaning “three”) with the last element in perfecta, a word of American Spanish origin that refers to a horse-racing bet in which the first- and second-place finishers are chosen correctly.

Synonyms

• threesome
• triad
• trinity
• trio
• triple
• triplet
• triumvirate

Examples of trifecta in a Sentence

that summertime trifecta for meteorologically induced misery: hazy, hot, and humid

Recent Examples on the Web

Should the Chiefs win and Mahomes pitch a new WNBA team, there could be a trifecta of sports sharing the same complex in the future. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

The amino acid formula leaves your hair feeling super fresh, doesn’t strip moisture, and gives it major volume, which is the trifecta for fine hair. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2024

In the vast majority of cases, the ethical trifecta will provide a very effective shield for attorneys from both ethical sanctions and civil liability. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

In 2022, Michigan Democrats achieved their first trifecta in state government in 40 years, winning control of both houses of the state legislature in addition to the governorship. —Scott Cohn, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

tri- + perfecta

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 2