trifecta

American  

[trahy-fek-tuh] / ˈtraɪˌfɛk tə /

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.

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trifecta British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of trifecta

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

Example Sentences

As resorts face shorter seasons because of warming weather, snow farming may be part of a new trifecta necessary for their operations: natural snow, manufactured snow, and stored snow.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

We haven’t witnessed a successful trifecta in North American sports since those Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets in successive NBA Finals.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

That came as a trifecta of geopolitical risk, a more hawkish-sounding Federal Reserve and another surge in oil prices spooked investors across Asia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

That moment came for me earlier this year, after a back-to-back-back trifecta of holidays, sickness and travel.

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026

He said, “Lieutenant, you should know that the kid kind of hit the trifecta of troubles.”

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor