triumvirate

noun

tri·​um·​vi·​rate trī-ˈəm-və-rət How to pronounce triumvirate (audio)
1
: a body of triumvirs
2
: the office or government of triumvirs
3
: a group or association of three

Did you know?

The first triumvirate of the Roman Republic, which consisted of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, was simply an alliance or partnership, not a formal institution of the government. The alliance didn't last long, however, and Caesar eventually emerged with total power. This led to his assassination, after which a second triumvirate took over, with Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus dividing the Roman world among themselves. But these triumvirs also soon turned on one another, with Octavian alone taking power; in time he would become Rome's first emperor.

Examples of triumvirate in a Sentence

among the city's cultural institutions, the art museum, the symphony orchestra, and the opera company reign as the supreme triumvirate
Recent Examples on the Web With the triumvirate of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi leading the front line, it was hoped Pochettino would be the man to lead PSG to Champions League glory. Rudy Chinchilla, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2024 Anything could still happen, including an unforeseen calamity that might prevent one of the vaunted triumvirate from advancing out of the preliminary heats Saturday morning. Dave Sheinin, Washington Post, 27 July 2024 In the meantime, the company has been run by a triumvirate of leaders: Brian Robbins, chief executive of Paramount Pictures; Chris McCarthy, chief executive of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios; and George Cheeks, chief executive of CBS. Jon Passantino, CNN, 8 July 2024 Debuting at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the McLaren P1 was part of the hybrid-electric triumvirate—including Ferrari’s LaFerrari and Porsche’s 918 Spyder—that gave a glimpse of the next-generation of hypercar. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for triumvirate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'triumvirate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of triumvirate was in 1584

Dictionary Entries Near triumvirate

Cite this Entry

“Triumvirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triumvirate. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

triumvirate

noun
tri·​um·​vi·​rate trī-ˈəm-və-rət How to pronounce triumvirate (audio)
1
: government by three persons who share authority and responsibility
2
: the office or term of office of a triumvir
3
: a group of three persons or things having something in common

More from Merriam-Webster on triumvirate

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