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
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2026
Three of a kind has been a winning hand for the Burrell Bucs thanks to the basketball trifecta of Peyton, Kendall, and Chase Coury at Burrell High School.
—Cassidy Wood, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The Boldy trifecta Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes grabbed the headlines more recently.
—Joe Smith, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The trifecta of juicy chicken, smoky-sweet bacon, and creamy ranch dressing is endlessly versatile (hello, CBR pinwheels and crispy sandwiches), and this casserole lets those flavors shine.
—Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Trifecta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifecta. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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