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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of trifecta

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This is the trifecta, Gromen predicts for China versus the U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The 2025 memoir garnered high praise from bestseller-inducing trifecta Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush Hager.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

U.S. stock futures fell as major indexes pulled back from a trifecta of record closes in the last session, as investors pulled back from risk in response to escalating tensions.

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

I shove the half-lemon in, shove Grandma out, tell myself the English bloke has glandular fever, cold sores, and tooth decay, the trifecta of unkissability, like every other hot male in Lost Cove.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

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