triumvirate

American  

[trahy-uhm-ver-it, -vuh-reyt] / traɪˈʌm vər ɪt, -vəˌreɪt /

noun

1. Roman History. the office or magistracy of a triumvir.

2. a government of three officers or magistrates functioning jointly.

3. a coalition of three magistrates or rulers for joint administration.

4. any association of three in office or authority.

5. any group or set of three.

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triumvirate British  

/ traɪˈʌmvɪrɪt /

noun

1. 1. a board of three officials jointly responsible for some task

   2. the political alliance of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, formed in 60 _bc ( First Triumvirate )

   3. the coalition and joint rule of the Roman Empire by Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian, begun in 43 _bc ( Second Triumvirate )

2. any joint rule by three men

3. any group of three men associated in some way

4. the office of a triumvir

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Etymology

Origin of triumvirate

From the Latin word triumvirātus, dating back to 1575–85. See triumvir, -ate ³

Explanation

A triumvirate is a group of three people who share power. In America's early days, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison were a triumvirate — three men whose leadership helped shape America. The prefix tri means "three," so it makes sense that triumvirate refers to a group of three. In this case, the three in question are powerful men who share authority. The word comes to us from ancient Rome, where two groups of three important men shared power over the Roman Republic. The First Triumvirate was made up of Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus, and the Second Triumvirate consisted of Marc Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian.

Example Sentences

Crosstown rivals General Motors and Ford Motor have generally always sold more cars, and Chrysler was affectionately called the “little brother” of the car triumvirate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It’s that these battles over leadership and this weird Julius Caesar–style triumvirate of interim leadership may be trickling down in ways that lets horrible people get away with incredibly light sentences.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

The “House of Ashur” alternate timeline shows Ashur’s formerly enslaved Syrian having won his freedom and the patronage of Marcus Licinius Crassus, one of the triumvirate of generals uneasily sharing power.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

He is obviously the second piece in the Lakers’ Big Three, a trio required to compete for a championship, a triumvirate that is one player short.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2024

The interweaving, flowing lines of equal voices began to make way for a new and fashionable triumvirate in music: tune, accompanying chords, and supporting bass.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• threesome
• triad
• troika