trio

American  

[tree-oh] / ˈtri oʊ /

noun

plural

trios

1. a musical composition for three voices or instruments.

2. a company of three singers or players.

3. any group of three persons or things.

4. a subordinate division of a minuet, scherzo, march, etc., usually in a contrasted key and style (perhaps originally written for three instruments or in three parts).

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trio British  

/ ˈtriːəʊ /

noun

1. a group of three people or things

2. music

   1. a group of three singers or instrumentalists or a piece of music composed for such a group

   2. a subordinate section in a scherzo, minuet, etc, that is contrastive in style and often in a related key

3. piquet three cards of the same rank

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Etymology

Origin of trio

1715–25; < Italian, equivalent to tri- tri- + ( du ) o two

Explanation

Whether it’s birds, opera singers, aces, or golfers, you can use the word trio to refer to anything made up of three. You can probably tell by tri- that trio involves three of something. It’s often used to describe a musical arrangement featuring three vocal parts or three different instruments, or a musical group made up of three players, such as a jazz trio consisting of a piano player, a bass player, and a drummer. For those not musically inclined, the word can be used more broadly to refer to three of anything, such as a trio of friends.

Example Sentences

The Smiths are a wealthy superhero team known as The Top Trio.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2025

After a good stretch of dancing and drinking, the Super Soaked Trio decide to head back to their villa.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2025

Sakul was a member of the Kinshasa-based band, Orchestre Sosoliso Trio Madjesi.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2023

Playing with Trio Accanto “was ideal chamber music for me,” Hodges said.

From New York Times • Aug. 7, 2023

The Hood Trio, tighter than the inside of Voldemort’s nose.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• threesome
• trilogy
• triumvirate