trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtri-lə-jē How to pronounce trilogy (audio)
plural trilogies
: a series of three dramas or literary works or sometimes three musical compositions that are closely related and develop a single theme

Did you know?

Dozens of tragic trilogies were written for the Greek stage, though only one, Aeschylus's great Oresteia (consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, *and *The Eumenides), has survived complete. Authors in later years have occasionally chosen to create trilogies to allow themselves to develop a highly complex story or cover a long span of time. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings wasn't actually intended as a trilogy, but since it was published in three volumes it's usually called one. George Lucas's three original Star Wars movies are an example of a film trilogy (which he followed many years later by another).

Examples of trilogy in a Sentence

the last book in the trilogy
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.
Prime Video has confirmed a third season of the smash boarding-school series will take place, based on Save Us — the third book in Mona Kasten’s bestselling trilogy. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 June 2025 His other film credits include Die Hard With a Vengeance, Unbreakable and the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 5 June 2025 Television was the best hope for epic fantasy on screen, as outside of a few diamonds in the rough (Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, for instance, or Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) there are few fantasy films worth taking seriously. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 At the risk of spoiling too much of the plot, After Story largely takes place after their romance ends, relating a series of events that end up feeling like anime’s answer to the Before trilogy. Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for trilogy

Word History

Etymology

Greek trilogia, from tri- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trilogy was circa 1661

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Cite this Entry

“Trilogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trilogy. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

trilogy

noun
tril·​o·​gy ˈtril-ə-jē How to pronounce trilogy (audio)
plural trilogies
: a series of three literary, dramatic, or musical works that are closely related and develop a single theme

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