trilogy

American  

[tril-uh-jee] / ˈtrɪl ə dʒi /

noun

• trilogies
  plural

1. a series or group of three plays, novels, operas, etc., that, although individually complete, are closely related in theme, sequence, or the like.

2. (in ancient Greek drama) a series of three complete and usually related tragedies performed at the festival of Dionysus and forming a tetralogy with the satyr play.

3. a group of three related things.

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trilogy British  

/ ˈtrɪlədʒɪ /

noun

1. a series of three related works, esp in literature, etc

2. (in ancient Greece) a series of three tragedies performed together at the Dionysian festivals

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trilogies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trilogy

From the Greek word trilogía, dating back to 1655–65. See tri-, -logy

Explanation

If you’ve just started a trilogy of books, you’ll be reading for a while. A trilogy is something that has three parts, so you'll have three books to read. You can see the tri-, meaning "three," in trilogy. The word originates from the Greek word trilogia, meaning "series of three related tragedies performed at Athens at the festival of Dionysus." Today, you can use trilogy to describe three of anything, such as a trilogy of movies that has the same characters, settings, and themes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trilogy trilogies

Sophocles conceived his play as part of a trilogy with a larger metaphysical design.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

They get both in “Drawn Together,” based on a duology by the Argentina-born novelist Mercedes Ron, whose “Culpables” trilogy has become a hit franchise for Prime Video and a young-adult phenomenon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Their 2024 rematch drew global viewing figures on Netflix on the undercard of Jake Paul v Mike Tyson, before Taylor sealed the trilogy at the Garden in 2025.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

The latest outing continues that story, Siqueira said: "The Lara that we saw in the 'Survivor' trilogy is the Lara in 'Legacy of Atlantis'," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Violet and I just watched the trilogy for twelve hours of Aragorn.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

He wrote more than two dozen books, including Cold War spy trilogies and World War II nonfiction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

The novel was the first of three Samson trilogies that Deighton produced between 1983 and 1996.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026

"For all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two trilogies, the vast, complex and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored on film," Warner Bros.

From Reuters ● Feb. 24, 2023

Many filmmakers think in terms of trilogies and conclusions, but since these movies are so different from one another, it sounds like you’re freed from carrying those burdens.

From New York Times ● Dec. 7, 2022

Deep within those solemn trilogies, as within a kingly robe, conveying to his vestment all its dignity, though all unseen among its shapely folds, stands Lincoln's living, Godlike self.

From Abraham Lincoln's Cardinal Traits; A Study in Ethics, with an Epilogue Addressed to Theologians by Clark S. Beardslee

Related Words

• threesome
• triad
• troika