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
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Wells Fargo Rewards trifecta What cards are part of the Wells Fargo trifecta?
—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
30 June 2026
There is a trifecta of hyaluronic acid, squalane, and peptides that give a very noticeable moisturizing and plumping benefits.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
29 June 2026
However, if your command of the Spanish language is less than lousy or if reading this has inspired you to take your first step inside the Compare Foods Supermarket on Milton Road, here’s the trifecta of non-negotiable dishes to eat.
—
Andre James,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trifecta
Cite this Entry
“Trifecta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifecta. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy Citation
