Trifecta

//tɹaɪˈfɛktə// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A bet in which the bettor must select the first three placegetters of a race in the order in which they finish. Australia, New-Zealand, US

    "The conservative player will play the exacta box bet and the occasional trifecta box wager."

  2. 2
    The attainment of three important achievements, qualities, etc. Australia, New-Zealand, US, figuratively

    "The money picture for Santorum could change after his trifecta win in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri Tuesday night."

  3. 3
    A set of three related things, often things that cause problems. Australia, New-Zealand, US, broadly

    "Along with runtime errors, two other errors we saw earlier round out the JavaScript bug trifecta: syntax errors, logic errors, and runtime errors."

  4. 4
    The complete legislative and executive control of state or federal government by one party: governorship, the upper house, and the lower house of state or federal legislatures. Australia, New-Zealand, US

    "In fact, there are about a dozen states, including California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Illinois, where Democrats have won the trifecta—they control the governor's seat as well as both houses of the state legislature."

Etymology

From tri- + (per)fecta.

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