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
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2025
While customers rank price, product quality and convenience as the trifecta in determining where to shop, customer trust in a retailer to do right by them is not far behind and a key factor in building and sustaining customer loyalty.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Now, for the trifecta, the Sterling K. Brown-starring saga just picked up four Emmy nominations this week, landing more nods in top categories than even awards experts predicted.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2025
Trump’s report card 6 months into second term The first six months of the Trump administration and GOP trifecta have in large part been driven by the decisions and announcements made by the White House.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 July 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 22 Aug. 2025.
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