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

The trilogy fight between the two saw Shevchenko walk away from UFC 306 with the title back in her hands. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

Which is in accordance with the trilogy of books the show is based on. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 2 May 2025

Marvel Studios announced in March that the lead cast members of each film will star in Doomsday alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom, several actors from the 2000s X-Men trilogy and a host of other Avengers franchise favorites. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 2 May 2025

The Mobile Suit Gundam film trilogy is a distillation of the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025

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