triplicate

[ noun adjective trip-li-kit, -keyt; verb trip-li-keyt ]

noun

1. one of three identical items, especially copies of typewritten material.

verb (used with object)

, trip·li·cat·ed, trip·li·cat·ing.

1. to make threefold; triple.
2. to make in triplicate:

   to triplicate a report before releasing it.

adjective

1. produced in or consisting of three copies or parts; threefold; triple:

   triplicate contracts.

triplicate

adjective

1. triple

verb

1. to multiply or be multiplied by three

noun

1. 1. a group of three things
   2. one of such a group
2. in triplicate
   in triplicate written out three times

Derived Forms

• ˌtripliˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• tripli·cation noun
• sub·tripli·cate adjective
• sub·tripli·cated adjective
• subtrip·li·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of triplicate¹

1400–50; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin triplicātus (past participle of triplicāre to triple), equivalent to triplic- (stem of triplex ) triplex + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of triplicate¹

C15: from Latin triplicāre to triple, from triplex

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in triplicate,
   1. in three identical copies:

      This letter should be done in triplicate.

   2. threefold:

      That goes for me, too, in triplicate.

Example Sentences

For instance, you might transmit in triplicate, dispersing the copies to make them likelier to get through.

From Nautilus

The contents of 3-D space are smeared over the 2-D system much as a bit of data might be stored in triplicate and dispersed.

From Nautilus

Each item had been stamped and approved in efficient triplicate by his very own Bureau of Prisons.

From The Daily Beast

This adultery is called triplicate, because it is threefold more grievous than the two former.

From Project Gutenberg

Done at London in triplicate the 5th day of September, 1914.

From Project Gutenberg

I had the honor of the triplicate of your letter of the 22d of last October, on the 20th instant.

From Project Gutenberg

If the Manager prefers, triplicate copies of all Chorus contracts may be so filed instead.

From Project Gutenberg

His duplicate or triplicate origin was already visible in the cast of his features.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• threesome
• triad
• troika