noun
Uncommon
threesome
THREE-suhm
Threesome (noun) means a group made up of three people or things. Example: “The threesome of old friends met up every summer for a road trip.”
noun
1
A group made up of three people or things.
"The threesome of old friends met up every summer for a road trip."
2
Sexual activity involving three participants.
"‘Tell me everything,’ she said to Losse, and when she’d heard everything, got the colleague who kept suggesting a threesome discreetly demoted."
— Joanna Biggs, Tell me everything (2013)
"The film's plot revolves around the fallout from a threesome gone wrong."
How to use threesome
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group of three, though in casual conversation it most often refers to sex involving three people.
When to use it
The sexual sense is the dominant meaning in everyday speech; use context to clarify the neutral "group of three" meaning.
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Word forms
- Plural
- threesomes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of old friends met up every summer for a road trip.
Etymology
From three plus the suffix -some, meaning "a group of."
Related words
Rhymes for threesome
See all rhymes for threesome →Frequently asked questions
What does “threesome” mean?
The word “threesome” means a group made up of three people or things. In plain terms, a group of three, though in casual conversation it most often refers to sex involving three people.
How do you pronounce “threesome”?
“Threesome” is pronounced THREE-suhm (/ˈθɹi.səm/ in IPA).
How do you use “threesome” in a sentence?
Here is “threesome” used in a sentence: “The threesome of old friends met up every summer for a road trip.”
What part of speech is “threesome”?
“Threesome” is a noun.
Is “threesome” a common word?
“Threesome” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “threesome” have?
“Threesome” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group made up of three people or things.
