noun
Uncommon
trilogy
TRIH-luhd-zhee
Trilogy (noun) means a set of three related works, such as novels or films, connected by story, characters, or theme. Example: “The original Star Wars trilogy remains a cultural landmark.”
noun
1
A set of three related works, such as novels or films, connected by story, characters, or theme.
"That such a safe adaptation could come of The Hunger Games speaks more to the trilogy’s commercial ascent than the book’s actual content, which is audacious and savvy in its dark calculations."
— Scott Tobias, The Hunger Games (2012)
"Daisy Ridley has reawakened the debate over “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s” biggest reveal, saying that the character of Rey’s lineage wasn’t clear to her even partway through filming the final chapter of the trilogy."
— Brian Lowry, Daisy Ridley reawakens the ‘Star Wars’ debate over Rey’s lineage (2020)
"The original Star Wars trilogy remains a cultural landmark."
"I just finished the final book of the fantasy trilogy."
"The director plans to turn the story into a film trilogy."
How to use trilogy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA story or series told across exactly three connected parts.
Common pairings
film trilogy
the final part of the trilogy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like trilogy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- trilogies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The original Star Wars _____ remains a cultural landmark.
Etymology
From Greek trilogia, built from tri- ("three") and -logy.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for trilogy
See all rhymes for trilogy →Frequently asked questions
What does “trilogy” mean?
The word “trilogy” means a set of three related works, such as novels or films, connected by story, characters, or theme. In plain terms, a story or series told across exactly three connected parts.
How do you pronounce “trilogy”?
“Trilogy” is pronounced TRIH-luhd-zhee (/ˈtɹɪləd͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “trilogy” in a sentence?
Here is “trilogy” used in a sentence: “The original Star Wars trilogy remains a cultural landmark.”
What part of speech is “trilogy”?
“Trilogy” is a noun.
Where does the word “trilogy” come from?
The word “trilogy” comes from Greek. From Greek trilogia, built from tri- ("three") and -logy.
Is “trilogy” a common word?
“Trilogy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a trilogy and a series?
A trilogy is specifically a set of three related works, such as novels or films, connected by story, characters, or theme, while a series can consist of any number of installments, including more than three. Every trilogy is a kind of series, but not every series is a trilogy, since the term trilogy is reserved strictly for sets of three.
Can a trilogy include works in different formats, like a book and a film?
Typically, a trilogy refers to three related works of the same kind, such as three novels or three films, connected by story, characters, or theme. Mixed-format sets are less commonly called a trilogy, since the term usually implies consistency of medium across the three works.
What makes three works count as a trilogy rather than three unrelated works?
For three works to count as a trilogy, they must be connected by story, characters, or theme rather than simply sharing an author or being released around the same time. This shared narrative or thematic thread is what distinguishes a trilogy from a coincidental set of three separate works.
