a group of three, especially of three closely related persons or things.
Chemistry.
an element, atom, or group having a valence of three.
a group of three closely related compounds or elements, as isomers or halides.
Music. a chord of three tones, especially one consisting of a given tone with its major or minor third and its perfect, augmented, or diminished fifth.
Military. Triad, the three categories of delivery systems for strategic nuclear weapons, namely bombers, land-based missiles, and missile-firing submarines.
The report says this missile is required in order to sustain an effective air leg of the Triad.
a group of three; trio
chem an atom, element, group, or ion that has a valency of three
music a three-note chord consisting of a note and the third and fifth above it
an aphoristic literary form used in medieval Welsh and Irish literature
the US strategic nuclear force, consisting of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and bombers
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin triad- (stem of trias ), from Greek triás; see tri-, -ad 1
A triad is three things or people considered as one unit. A triad is a trio. A triangle is a shape with three sides. Similarly, a triad is a set of three things or people. To be a triad, three individual parts must also be considered a unit. A band with three members is a triad. A business with three divisions is a triad. A family with three members is a triad. A book with three volumes is a triad (usually called a trilogy). Triads are also called threesomes and trios.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jacob Stokes, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the launch shows China "is looking to consolidate its nuclear triad through more operational tests for what would be real-world use."
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
This will provide needed targeting flexibility and increase the value of the most ready and responsive leg of our triad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 15, 2026
And mind you, my old service “owns” two legs of America’s nuclear triad.
From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025
These matching maps round out a triad of evidence that suggests excess gamma rays in the center of the Milky Way could originate with dark matter.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2025
Write the diminished triad for each root given.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Among nuclear insiders, the sanctity of the Triad has been an article of faith for decades, as bedrock a belief as the Holy Trinity has been to the Catholic Church.
From Slate ● Feb. 2, 2024
While a mid-credits scene sets up a possible second season – with the Triad informant possibly being targeted – Wu hasn't solidified any plans yet.
From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2024
You are now standing on the site of ancient Rome’s most important religious monument, the Temple of the Capitoline Triad: Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Juno Regina and Minerva.
From New York Times ● May 1, 2023
The police confirmed that the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau would be gathering evidence on whether the incidents breached the National Anthem Ordinance or other legislation.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 10, 2022
Some sort of Triad, or Trinity, existed in very early times, although the Orthodox form was not established until later.
From Orthodoxy: Its Truths And Errors by Clarke, James Freeman
The number three speaks to the idea of balance and the mystical idea that certain energies can only be accessed through triads.
From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2024
Experimenters assigned some triads to go through a bonding session, where they were grouped according to color preferences, given uniforms, and led through an introductory chat session to build familiarity.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 20, 2024
Some are one mother, one daughter, while others are triads like the Escobedo women — Cecilia and daughters Cindy and Abigail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2022
It felt a little bit like middle school, when pairs or triads would declare themselves best friends—a label that, like the label of podmate, comes with expectations of loyalty, and priority.
From Slate ● Mar. 9, 2021
You must know your major, minor, augmented and diminished triads.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
