trifecta
noun
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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.
Examples of trifecta in a Sentence
Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
Yet despite the grand lobby and the usual resort trifecta of beach, pool, and spa, the property has a bunker-esque vibe that encourages hiding out for a few hours—or days, or weeks.
—Juliana Shallcross, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
In October, the World Health Organization validated the Maldives for the hepatitis B part of this trifecta.
—Fran Kritz, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Montana has a Republican trifecta, meaning the party controls the governor's office and holds a majority in both chambers of the state legislature.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trifecta
Cite this Entry
“Trifecta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifecta. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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