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

Schwartz, the third head of the Axios trifecta and an unlikely near-20-year veteran of journalism, said the real breakthrough for him wasn’t the phrase itself but the guilt it’s designed to erase. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Keep reading for the skin care trifecta that sealed the deal on Hargitay’s fabulous Emmys look. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026

Foulkes, Matos and Ahern make up a trifecta of Democratic women who won their primaries on Wednesday night – meaning that three of the state's top offices could be filled by women next year. — Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 10 Sep. 2026

Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm and Polish Enzymatic Exfoliator, plus a travel trifecta, are also available. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 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