Holy Trinity

noun

1

: trinity sense 1

According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Celts.

—Rosemary Ellen Guiley

2

or holy trinity

a

: a group of three things or people regarded as having fundamental importance or prominence in a particular place or area of interest or activity

By September, the region's famous foliage is emerging, the air is crisp, and it's prime time for the first two sports of the Woodstock Holy Trinity of fishing, biking, and skiing.

—National Geographic

I grew up in a town so white that our celebrity holy trinity consisted of Martha Stewart, Paul Newman, and Jason Robards.

—Robert Wilder

Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, the holy trinity of young ice-cream purists …

—Pierre Franey

… mocks the holy trinity of the art world—sex, drugs and pretension.

—Maria Simson

b

cooking : the combination of onion, bell pepper, and celery as it is employed in Cajun and Creole cuisine

Almost every traditional Cajun recipe calls for the merged flavors of the Holy Trinity to serve as its underpinning, rendering the three aromatic vegetables the most prized ingredients of all in New Orleans cookery.

—Lia Ryerson

Examples of Holy Trinity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nuns of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity were also told to rescind their August 2023 statement that rejected the bishop’s authority. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024

The temple’s most unique feature, however, are three large dormer windows symbolizing the Holy Trinity. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

He is also believed to have explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a shamrock, a native Irish clover. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024

Those looking for warmth before the parade can join United Irish Societies for a mass at Most Holy Trinity Church, at 1050 Porter Street, at 10:30 a.m. Or those wanting an endorphin hit can stop by Roosevelt Park for the 41st annual CorkTown Races. —Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024

Le Consort, 7:30 p.m. March 1, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral ($45). —Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024

Around that time, Holy Trinity merged with Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and became also known as Holy Trinity-Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 21 July 2023

Yellow onion, green bell pepper, and celery: A classic Holy Trinity. Garlic: Adds depth and earthiness. —Nancie McDermott, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2023

Red bell pepper, yellow onion, and celery stalks: For a Holy Trinity to build flavor in the chowder. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1