trilogy

American  

[tril-uh-jee] / ˈtrɪl ə dʒi /

noun

trilogies plural

1. a series or group of three plays, novels, operas, etc., that, although individually complete, are closely related in theme, sequence, or the like.

2. (in ancient Greek drama) a series of three complete and usually related tragedies performed at the festival of Dionysus and forming a tetralogy with the satyr play.

3. a group of three related things.

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trilogy British  

/ ˈtrɪlədʒɪ /

noun

1. a series of three related works, esp in literature, etc

2. (in ancient Greece) a series of three tragedies performed together at the Dionysian festivals

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trilogies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trilogy

From the Greek word trilogía, dating back to 1655–65. See tri-, -logy

Explanation

If you’ve just started a trilogy of books, you’ll be reading for a while. A trilogy is something that has three parts, so you'll have three books to read. You can see the tri-, meaning "three," in trilogy. The word originates from the Greek word trilogia, meaning "series of three related tragedies performed at Athens at the festival of Dionysus." Today, you can use trilogy to describe three of anything, such as a trilogy of movies that has the same characters, settings, and themes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trilogy trilogies

But instead of helming “Troy,” starring a glistening Brad Pitt as Achilles, Nolan embarked on a genre-shifting Batman trilogy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

A coming-of-age trilogy that traverses icy seas and snowy mountains concludes among the everyday struggles of an Icelandic village.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

The adaptation of the first installment of Adeyemi’s “Legacy of Orïsha” fantasy trilogy is slated to hit theaters in January 2027.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

The Targaryen version of “Dynasty” that HBO is airing now owes a debt to Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and its follow-up, “The Hobbit,” for its existence.

From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026

Everyone in the Annex except Mr. van Daan and Peter has read the Hungarian Rhapsody trilogy, a biography of the composer, piano virtuoso and child prodigy Franz Liszt.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

He wrote more than two dozen books, including Cold War spy trilogies and World War II nonfiction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Boyens, along with with Jackson and screenwriter Fran Walsh, oversaw the “LOTR” and The Hobbit” film trilogies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

As trilogies go, Friday's third instalment of the Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano rivalry at New York's Madison Square Garden doesn't add up, but still makes all the sense in the world.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2025

"For all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two trilogies, the vast, complex and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored on film," Warner Bros.

From Reuters ● Feb. 24, 2023

This is the headquarters of the union of all those who chant hymns, take part in the Olympic games, dance after the manner of satyrs and play the Greek trilogies.

From The Coming of the King by Babcock, Bernie

Related Words

• threesome
• triad
• troika