hat trick
noun
People
Did you know?
It may surprise some people to learn that the term "hat trick" as it relates to sports actually originated in British cricket. A bowler who retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls was entitled to a new hat at the expense of the club to commemorate this feat. Eventually, the phrase was applied to a single player scoring three goals in any goal sport and later to three victories or successes in sports as different as horse racing and golf. The phrase finally broadened to include a string of three important successes or achievements in any field.
Examples of hat trick in a Sentence
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Seniors Bia Mantellato and Taylor Smith delivered hat tricks.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Tippett's third career hat trick gives him seven goals in his last nine games.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
On an individual level, Mikael Granlund, who powered the Ducks’ overtime win with a hat trick that accounted for all their scoring in Calgary, saw his four-game goal streak conclude with seven tallies on the same night McDavid extended his push to four contests (five goals).
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hat trick
Cite this Entry
“Hat trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hat%20trick. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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