Trifecta

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A situation in which one achieves success in three distinct areas simultaneously
2. an occurrence where three wins or victories are achieved in a single venture
3. a term used to describe a combination of three successful elements that contribute to an overall accomplishment

Etymology: "Trifecta" is a clipping of a bet type that had a surprising origin. The word was made by combining the Latin prefix "tri-" meaning three with "perfecta," the name of an earlier betting wager that required picking the first two finishers in a race in exact order. The "perfecta" half is itself a Spanish-influenced term for a perfect bet, drawn from the Latin "perfectus," meaning completed or thoroughly done. The three-part version was built by adding "tri-" to that existing term, so the word describes predicting the first three finishers in the correct order. Its meaning has since widened well beyond the racetrack, and it now refers to any venture in which three wins or victories are achieved at once.

Synonyms: triple, threefold, trio, triad, set of three