triumvirate
Americannoun
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Roman History. the office or magistracy of a triumvir.
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a government of three officers or magistrates functioning jointly.
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a coalition of three magistrates or rulers for joint administration.
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any association of three in office or authority.
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any group or set of three.
noun
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a board of three officials jointly responsible for some task
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the political alliance of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, formed in 60 bc ( First Triumvirate )
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the coalition and joint rule of the Roman Empire by Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian, begun in 43 bc ( Second Triumvirate )
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any joint rule by three men
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any group of three men associated in some way
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the office of a triumvir
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.
Vocabulary lists containing triumvirate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
McQuaide, 38, is a 15-year veteran who played his first 10 seasons with the Rams, most as part of a special teams triumvirate that included kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Johnny Hekker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
During his three-year reign, the boy king was shielded from real power by a triumvirate of regents and advisers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
He temporarily stayed his decision, but urged the administration to replace the triumvirate with a legitimate successor.
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
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
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
