trifecta
noun
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.
Examples of trifecta in a Sentence
Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2025
Other business tax breaks are in the Senate text as well, including a trifecta of changes from 2017 that had already expired and were the subject of tax legislation that was voted down last year.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 16 June 2025
Adidas Ultraboost 21: $180 With responsive cushioning and a snug fit, the Adidas Ultraboost 21 at Nordstrom offers the sneaker trifecta: comfort, style and support, all suitable for long walks or runs or more casual outings.
—Jené Luciani Sena
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 June 2025
This evolution from supporter to collaborator to catalyst represents marketing’s holy trifecta: a self-sustaining biosphere where every transaction spawns multiple points of value.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 22 May 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 Jul. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share