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
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Pec, who scored a hat trick in Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup opening leg against Mount Pleasant FA, was out serving a one-game suspension after picking up two yellow cards in last Saturday’s loss at Colorado.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Medfield’s next response happened when Matt Dickson fed Luke Dickson in the slot and the sophomore was able to complete the hat trick.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The last time Charlotte and Inter Miami faced each other, in September 2025, Charlotte won 3-0 on a Toklomati hat trick and a Kahlina save on a Lionel Messi penalty.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hat trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hat%20trick. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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