trifecta

noun

tri·​fec·​ta trī-ˈfek-tə 

ˈtrī-ˌfek-

1

: triple sense 1b

achieved a show-business trifecta : a platinum record, hit TV series, and an Oscar

2

: a variation of the perfecta in which a bettor wins by selecting the first three finishers of a race in the correct order of finish

Did you know?

Where does trifecta come from?

Trifecta is a recent addition to the English language. It first appeared in the early 1970s as a term for a horse-racing bet in which the first, second, and third place finishers are chosen in the correct order.

The word has since broadened in meaning: it can now also refer to a group of three (usually desirable) things (such as “the trifecta of curing cancer, ending hunger, and putting an end to war"). It is found in everything from advertisements to media company names to casual speech.

Trifecta combines the prefix tri- (meaning “three”) with the last element in perfecta, a word of American Spanish origin that refers to a horse-racing bet in which the first- and second-place finishers are chosen correctly.

Synonyms of trifecta

• trio
• triad

Examples of trifecta in a Sentence

that summertime trifecta for meteorologically induced misery: hazy, hot, and humid

Recent Examples on the Web

The 2025 memoir garnered high praise from bestseller-inducing trifecta Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush Hager. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

She’s gone beyond a Cure trifecta on the album to a sort of Cure superfecta. —Chris Willman, Variety, 12 June 2026

Along with pursuing new trifectas in four states, Democrats also see changes to make gains in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. —Philip Elliott, Time, 8 June 2026

Saturday brings a trifecta of hot temperatures, poor air quality and severe storms to the Philadelphia region. —Tammie Souza, CBS News, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

tri- + perfecta

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trifecta

• ejecta
• insecta
• analecta
• imperfecta
• recta