trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtri-lə-jē 

plural trilogies

: a series of three dramas or literary works or sometimes three musical compositions that are closely related and develop a single theme

Did you know?

Dozens of tragic trilogies were written for the Greek stage, though only one, Aeschylus's great Oresteia (consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, *and *The Eumenides), has survived complete. Authors in later years have occasionally chosen to create trilogies to allow themselves to develop a highly complex story or cover a long span of time. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings wasn't actually intended as a trilogy, but since it was published in three volumes it's usually called one. George Lucas's three original Star Wars movies are an example of a film trilogy (which he followed many years later by another).

Examples of trilogy in a Sentence

the last book in the trilogy

Recent Examples on the Web

In the books, Lionsgate looks at the trilogy as one film not broken out as three. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026

The series finds Ash Williams — of the original Evil Dead trilogy — living in a trailer park and working as a department store stocker, still haunted by his experiences slaying Deadites three decades earlier. —Sammi Burke, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026

The Fallout executive producer — who has frequently collaborated with his brother Christopher on past projects (such as The Prestige and his Batman trilogy) — says the classical epic is a spectacular experience. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026

Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm have come up with a clever storytelling twist to explain why Darth Vader will be standing in front of Kylo Ren’s TIE fighter when the Star Wars timeline expands in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge to include the original trilogy of movies. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek trilogia, from tri- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtril-ə-jē 

plural trilogies

: a series of three literary, dramatic, or musical works that are closely related and develop a single theme