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

Her trilogy The Secret Circle was published in 1992 and adapted into a TV drama in 2011. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025

Ball is known for directing the Maze Runner trilogy before taking on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, with the latter grossing nearly $400 million worldwide. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025

Ahead of the book's fall release date, the author of the Beasts of Prey trilogy exclusively reveals the cover of her latest fantasy novel to PEOPLE, while also sharing what inspired her to center her story on Medusa. —Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Caine played Alfred Pennyworth in Nolan’s Batman trilogy, with Ledger joining the second installment as the Joker. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025

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