What does "triptych" mean?
A picture or series of pictures painted on three tablets connected by hinges.
Triptych
/ˈtɹɪp.tɪk/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A picture or series of pictures painted on three tablets connected by hinges.
- Grammar: triptych is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abstract, abstraction, account book, address book.
- Useful contrasts: monoptych, single panel artwork, single work.
- Usage evidence: The structure of the painting is similar to that of a triptych, whose central panel is occupied by the dying horse and the woman carrying the lamp.
How to use "triptych"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "triptych" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "triptych" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "triptych" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "triptych" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "triptych" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abstract" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "triptych", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A picture or series of pictures painted on three tablets connected by hinges.
"I never thought breastfeeding would be hard. When I thought about it at all, my mind conjured beatific scenes suffused with a sort of religious glow. […] These days I envisage more of a triptych: the infant Jesus spluttering at the breast, face purple with hangry fury; the infant Jesus possetting milk down Mary’s front; the infant Jesus and the nappy explosion."
- 2 art consisting of a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on three panels (usually hinged together) wordnet
- 3 A group of three people or works, especially when considered representative of a particular field or theme. broadly
"Thus, with the passing years, Papa Wemba, a hardworking and introverted man, has come to embody “African pop,” forming a triptych with Youssou N’Dour and Salif Keita."
- 4 A group of three people or works, especially when considered representative of a particular field or theme.; A film or video sequence intended to be shown on a triple screen with the use of linked projectors. broadly
"The centerpiece of the show is a poised, luminous, tender, and diabolically clever video installation, “Le Triptyque de Noirmoutier” (The Noirmoutier Triptych), which Varda shot on 35-mm. film[…]. The man gets himself a bottle of beer; the older woman heads with dishes from the sink toward the cupboard—and crosses the dividing line of the triptych exactly like crossing a threshold."
- 5 A group of three people or works, especially when considered representative of a particular field or theme.; A set of three se-tenant postage stamps that form a composite picture. broadly
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Any set of three closely connected ideas or objects. figuratively
"Witchcraft, heresy, and counterfeiting formed a triptych in popular imagination and in the law."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The structure of the painting is similar to that of a triptych, whose central panel is occupied by the dying horse and the woman carrying the lamp."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "triptych"?
Common synonyms include: abstract, abstraction, account book, address book, adversaria, album.
How do you use "triptych" in a sentence?
The structure of the painting is similar to that of a triptych, whose central panel is occupied by the dying horse and the woman carrying the lamp.
How do you pronounce "triptych"?
Pronounced /ˈtɹɪp.tɪk/.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek τρίπτυχος (tríptukhos, “consisting of three layers, threefold”), from τρι- (tri-) + πτυχή (ptukhḗ, “a fold”).