trifecta

[trahy-fek-tuh]

noun

1. Sports.

   1. a type of bet, especially on horse races, in which the bettor must select the first three finishers in exact order.

   2. a race in which such bets are made.

2. a group, set, or series of three; a triad.

   Plain yogurt is the perfect food, with its trifecta of carbs, protein, and fat.

trifecta

/ traɪˈfɛktə /

noun

1. a form of betting in which the punter selects the first three place-winners in a horse race in the correct order

2. any achievement involving three successful outcomes

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifecta¹

First recorded in 1970–75; tri- + (per)fecta

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifecta¹

from _tri- + ( per ) fecta , a US system of betting

Example Sentences

Philadelphia sports fans endured a home-team trifecta, starting with the Phillies’ season-ending playoff loss to the Dodgers plus regular-season losses by the Eagles and Flyers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For members, the fire was only the first in what Clark called a “trifecta of horribleness.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 31-year-old's trifecta of home runs and 10 strikeouts in the same game is a Major League Baseball post-season record, highlighting a rare talent of excelling with bat and ball.

Read more on BBC

The case arrives amidst unprecedented mid-decade gerrymandering nationwide — and pressure from the White House, ahead of the midterms, to maximize GOP seats in every state under Republican trifecta control.

Read more on Salon

“The second quarter was the trifecta: We grew revenue, we grew our profit and we generated cash,” Giamatteo said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal