trifecta
noun
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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.
Examples of trifecta in a Sentence
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2025
This nutrient trifecta promotes fullness and prevents overeating or reaching for high-sugar snacks, helping to balance blood sugar naturally throughout the day.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
The House historically flips to the opposite party of the current presidency in the midterm elections, and Democrats only need a net gain of three seats to regain control of the chamber and break up the GOP trifecta.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
But the two-way Japanese superstar already has his sights set on a potential trifecta.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trifecta
Cite this Entry
“Trifecta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifecta. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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