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

U.S. stock futures fell as major indexes pulled back from a trifecta of record closes in the last session, following faltering stock indexes in Asia and Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

That includes two in Indiana, the Louisville-area seat in Kentucky, the Kansas City district in Kansas, and, if they hold a trifecta this fall, a single district in New Hampshire.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

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

It was impossible to explain, but there was something calming in the habit, a comfort he found in the trifecta of it.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray