trio

noun

ˈtrē-(ˌ)ō 

plural trios

1

a

: a musical composition for three voice parts or three instruments

b

: the secondary or episodic division of a minuet or scherzo, a march, or of various dance forms

2

: the performers of a musical or dance trio

3

: a group or set of three

Synonyms

• threesome
• triad
• trifecta
• trinity
• triple
• triplet
• triumvirate

Examples of trio in a Sentence

He plays in a jazz trio.

the band was just a trio of musicians on piano, drums, and saxophone

Recent Examples on the Web

Of the trio, Bernadette was written as the strictest rule-follower — possibly even the most narrow-minded. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025

So for now anyhow, the Packers are all in on the trio of Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine. —Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Sharing several videos from the red carpet to her Instagram Story, Lively praised director Paul Feig and costar Anna Kendrick in a sweet caption underneath a clip of the trio. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Brooklyn Tower will, one day, have a trio of them on the roof of the old Dimes Savings Bank. —Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian from tri- (from Latin)

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for trio

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

trio

noun

ˈtrē-ō 

plural trios

1

a

: a musical composition for three voices or instruments

b

: the performers of a musical trio

2

: a group or set of three