trident

American  

[trahyd-nt] / ˈtraɪd nt /

noun

1. a three-pronged instrument or weapon.

2. Roman History. a three-pronged spear used by a retiarius in gladiatorial combats.

3. Classical Mythology. the three-pronged spear forming a characteristic attribute of the sea god Poseidon, or Neptune.

4. a fish spear having three prongs.

5. Military. Trident, a 34-foot (10-meter) submarine-launched U.S. ballistic missile with eight to ten warheads and a range of 6,500 miles (10,459 km).

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adjective

1. Also tridental having three prongs or tines.

trident ¹ British  

/ ˈtraɪdənt /

noun

1. a three-pronged spear, originally from the East

2. (in Greek and Roman mythology) the three-pronged spear that the sea god Poseidon (Neptune) is represented as carrying

3. a three-pronged instrument, weapon, or symbol

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adjective

1. having three prongs

Trident ² British  

/ ˈtraɪdənt /

noun

1. a type of US submarine-launched ballistic missile with independently targetable warheads

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Etymology

Origin of trident

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin trident- (stem of tridēns ) “having three teeth”; tri-, dent ²

Explanation

If you’re the ancient Greek god of the sea, you’re probably already familiar with a trident, a three-pronged spear you can use to stab things. The trident, which is a spear with three points, or prongs, is often associated with the Greek god Poseidon, who used his trident to cause earthquakes and create sources of water. Mere mortals, however, are more likely to use a trident for spear fishing, or long ago, for military combat. Remember not to confuse a trident with a pitchfork, which is used mainly for lifting and tossing things.

Example Sentences

Some fought with only a trident; some fought mounted on horseback; some on chariot; others on foot with helmet and short sword; some with two daggers; still others exclusively fought wild beasts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

As well as protecting maritime task groups and gathering intelligence, they protect the Vanguard class of submarines that carry the UK's trident nuclear missiles.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2025

Tiffany & Co.’s new collection by Pharrell Williams, dubbed Tiffany Titan, takes inspiration from mythology, channeling the spike of Poseidon’s trident as a symbol of lifeforce, rebellious power and punk energy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

Crawford received a standing ovation after hoisting the trident just in front of the dugout.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2023

He was armed with a massive trident and a weighted net.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• dart
• harpoon
• skewer