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

• threesome
• triad
• trinity
• trio
• triple
• triplet
• triumvirate

Examples of trifecta in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

With a refined broad-spectrum product that’s totally THC-free, Penguin completes the trifecta by also creating a unique assortment of flavors that will satisfy anyone’s taste buds. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

North Carolina: The nation's top gubernatorial battleground North Carolina’s governor race is set to be the year’s most contentious contest as Democrats try to stave off a Republican trifecta in the state. —USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024

The city sits right on the banks of Payette Lake, which offers a trifecta of beautiful mountain views, beaches to relax on and watercraft rentals. —Kae Lani Palmisano, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024

Infrastructure can potentially reap big benefits McGinty told me how the trifecta of electrification, digitalization and decarbonization can reap profound benefits for businesses, like that Alabama hospital. —Joan Michelson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

That trifecta seems improbable, almost as unlikely as Nolan coming away empty-handed. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2023

But through what Post described as a strategy of chipping away, Democrats were able to claw back seats to the point where more Americans live under Democratic gubernatorial and state legislative trifectas than under GOP trifectas. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2023

This after-sun body butter from Hawaiian Tropic is made with coconut oil, shea butter, and avocado oil — a trifecta of moisturizers that offers 12 hours of hydration for your skin. —Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024

These pivotal trifecta efforts are shaping a future where technology amplifies human potential, better ensures equitable benefits and navigates ethical complexities with visionary foresight and integrity. —Izabela Lundberg, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

tri- + perfecta

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 2