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

Meanwhile, a more senior prosecutor named Mark Coyne would attest that Habba was not running the office and that the triumvirate was following the law.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

The idea the Spanish triumvirate of Guardiola, Begiristain and Ferran Soriano - the club's CEO - ran the show in the absence of a distant Al Mubarak is a false narrative.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 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

Because now that the aunt was gone, Ellen had reneged from that triumvirate of which Miss Rosa tried without realising it to make two.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner

Related Words

• threesome
• triad
• troika