trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtri-lə-jē 

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

The series, based on a trilogy of novels by Hugh Howey, is midway through its second season on the streamer. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Dec. 2024

Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches book trilogy, which chronicles the lives of generations of the magical Mayfair family, was also adapted into a TV series — Mayfair Witches — starring Alexandra Daddario. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2024

The Old Country is set before the events of the original trilogy, exploring the origins of the crime family in 1900s Sicily. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

While the trilogy included memorable female characters like Arwen (Liv Tyler), Éowyn (Miranda Otto), and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), it has been criticized for not placing any of them at the center of the story. —Rochelle Beighton, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek trilogia, from tri- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trilogy

noun

tril·​o·​gy ˈtril-ə-jē 

plural trilogies

: a series of three literary, dramatic, or musical works that are closely related and develop a single theme