Holy Trinity

noun

1

: trinity sense 1

According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Celts.

—Rosemary Ellen Guiley

2

or holy trinity

a

: a group of three things or people regarded as having fundamental importance or prominence in a particular place or area of interest or activity

By September, the region's famous foliage is emerging, the air is crisp, and it's prime time for the first two sports of the Woodstock Holy Trinity of fishing, biking, and skiing.

—National Geographic

I grew up in a town so white that our celebrity holy trinity consisted of Martha Stewart, Paul Newman, and Jason Robards.

—Robert Wilder

Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, the holy trinity of young ice-cream purists …

—Pierre Franey

… mocks the holy trinity of the art world—sex, drugs and pretension.

—Maria Simson

b

cooking : the combination of onion, bell pepper, and celery as it is employed in Cajun and Creole cuisine

Almost every traditional Cajun recipe calls for the merged flavors of the Holy Trinity to serve as its underpinning, rendering the three aromatic vegetables the most prized ingredients of all in New Orleans cookery.

—Lia Ryerson

Examples of Holy Trinity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ancient symbol is closely associated with Celtic culture, where it is affiliated with the ideas of eternity or the Holy Trinity, and is a popular sign across Ireland. —Janine Henni, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Both those managers have a statue at the stadium, as do the ‘Holy Trinity’: Law, Best and Charlton. —Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025

Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity scored points in bunches during Monday’s 91-72 nonconference victory over the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City boys basketball team. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025

Boys Lacrosse Lake Mary 21, Holy Trinity Episcopal 3 Buzz: Luke Shale had 4 goals for the Rams (8-0) in the win while Chase Hinshaw had 3 goals and 4 assists, and Max Masterson added 3 goals and 3 assists. —Robert W Clark, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Holy Trinity

• alkalinity
• consanguinity
• crystallinity
• femininity
• masculinity
• affinity
• divinity
• infinity
• salinity
• vicinity
• virginity