trifecta

[trahy-fek-tuh]

noun

a type of bet, especially on horse races, in which the bettor must select the first three finishers in exact order.

a race in which such bets are made.Compare superfecta.

Origin of trifecta

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

Also called triple.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for trifecta

Contemporary Examples of trifecta

Petty, shade, and thirst are my favorite human “virtues” and the trifecta of any good series of “stories.”
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist
Judnick Mayard
January 8, 2015
Now, Lupita Nyong'o. Anna Wintour has hit the trifecta, delivering Vogue's readers with exactly what they want.
Lupita Nyong'o Covers Vogue; Museum of Modern Art Announces Bjork Exhibit
The Fashion Beast Team
June 19, 2014
Tfank, Thurman, and Prada were the trifecta that changed everything in 1995—even if it was accidental.
Barbara Tfank: The Red Carpet Radical
Erin Cunningham
March 2, 2014
This is a series led by the trifecta of Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, and Kathy Bates, three actresses—imagine!
‘Boy Parts’ Proves ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ Is the Boldest Drama on TV
Kevin Fallon
October 17, 2013
Casey Anthony is white, middle-class and attractive—the trifecta for producers and bookers.
The Media’s Casey Anthony Shame
Howard Kurtz
July 5, 2011

British Dictionary definitions for trifecta

trifecta

noun

a form of betting in which the punter selects the first three place-winners in a horse race in the correct order

any achievement involving three successful outcomes

Word Origin for trifecta

from tri- + (per) fecta, a US system of betting

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

Word Origin and History for trifecta

1974, from tri- + perfecta.