trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtri-lə-jē 

plural trilogies

: a series of three dramas or literary works or sometimes three musical compositions that are closely related and develop a single theme

Did you know?

Dozens of tragic trilogies were written for the Greek stage, though only one, Aeschylus's great Oresteia (consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, *and *The Eumenides), has survived complete. Authors in later years have occasionally chosen to create trilogies to allow themselves to develop a highly complex story or cover a long span of time. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings wasn't actually intended as a trilogy, but since it was published in three volumes it's usually called one. George Lucas's three original Star Wars movies are an example of a film trilogy (which he followed many years later by another).

Examples of trilogy in a Sentence

the last book in the trilogy

Recent Examples on the Web

In the photo, which Lourd shared on Instagram, her son Kingston and daughter Jackson looked up at a TV playing 1983’s Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, the third film in the original Star Wars trilogy. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 14 July 2025

Gunn said Cooper came to embody the role because of their previous working relationship on the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, in which the actor voiced the fierce raccoon Rocket. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 July 2025

The director has since expressed admiration for the trilogy's thematic and technical accomplishments. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 July 2025

Taylor completed the trilogy sweep on Friday at Madison Square Garden, where the rivalry first began in 2022. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek trilogia, from tri- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtril-ə-jē 

plural trilogies

: a series of three literary, dramatic, or musical works that are closely related and develop a single theme