ménage à trois
noun
mé·nage à trois
mā-ˈnäzh-ä-ˈt(r)wä 
mə-
1
: an arrangement in which three people (such as a married couple and a lover of one member of the couple) have a sexual or romantic relationship especially while they are living together
2
: a sexual encounter involving three people : threesome
Examples of ménage à trois in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Our final lip sync of the night is a menage a trois.
—
Paul McCallion, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2021
Brian and Matt are involved in a menage a trois with a personal trainer named (wait for it) Steve.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2018
Fergus makes like an expert wingman and hooks Ian and Brighid up but first Fergus discloses that his first time was a menage a trois.
—Roxane Gay, Glamour, 29 Oct. 2017
Paul McCallion, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2021
Brian and Matt are involved in a menage a trois with a personal trainer named (wait for it) Steve.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2018
Fergus makes like an expert wingman and hooks Ian and Brighid up but first Fergus discloses that his first time was a menage a trois.
—Roxane Gay, Glamour, 29 Oct. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ménage à trois.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French, literally, household for three
First Known Use
1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near ménage à trois
Cite this Entry
“Ménage à trois.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/m%C3%A9nage%20%C3%A0%20trois. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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