pas de trois

noun

ˌpä-də-ˈtrwä How to pronounce pas de trois (audio) -ˈtwä How to pronounce pas de trois (audio)
plural pas de trois ˌpä-də-ˈtrwä(z) How to pronounce pas de trois (audio)
-ˈtwä(z)
: a dance or figure for three performers

Examples of pas de trois in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The novel is a pas de trois (dance for three) starring Natalia, her partner, Alexander, and her nemesis, Dmitri. — The Know, The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2025 His every movement added layers to his character, which in turn brought tremendous dramatic power to the gripping pas de trois between the three principal characters and to the production’s final scenes. — Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, step for three

First Known Use

circa 1762, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pas de trois was circa 1762

Rhymes for pas de trois

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Browse Nearby Words

pas de quatre
pas de trois
pase
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Cite this Entry

“Pas de trois.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pas%20de%20trois. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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