trifecta

noun

tri·​fec·​ta trī-ˈfek-tə 

ˈtrī-ˌfek-

1

: triple sense 1b

achieved a show-business trifecta : a platinum record, hit TV series, and an Oscar

2

: a variation of the perfecta in which a bettor wins by selecting the first three finishers of a race in the correct order of finish

Did you know?

Where does trifecta come from?

Trifecta is a recent addition to the English language. It first appeared in the early 1970s as a term for a horse-racing bet in which the first, second, and third place finishers are chosen in the correct order.

The word has since broadened in meaning: it can now also refer to a group of three (usually desirable) things (such as “the trifecta of curing cancer, ending hunger, and putting an end to war"). It is found in everything from advertisements to media company names to casual speech.

Trifecta combines the prefix tri- (meaning “three”) with the last element in perfecta, a word of American Spanish origin that refers to a horse-racing bet in which the first- and second-place finishers are chosen correctly.

Synonyms of trifecta

• trio
• triad

Examples of trifecta in a Sentence

that summertime trifecta for meteorologically induced misery: hazy, hot, and humid

Recent Examples on the Web

The voter information at stake includes driver's licenses and Social Security numbers, which civil rights lawyers call part of a 'trifecta' to hackers for identity theft. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026

Dudinha completed the trifecta for San Diego by forcing an own goal in the 65th minute. —Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Within a six-month period, Minnesota lost DFL Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, the two women who led the Legislature through a consequential two years when Democrats had a trifecta in state government. —Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

The state is hamstrung in its redistricting efforts despite a Republican trifecta by a constitutional amendment barring maps favoring a specific party. —Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

tri- + perfecta

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trifecta

• ejecta
• insecta
• analecta
• imperfecta
• recta