trinity

trinity — noun

1. the Christian doctrine that the one God exists in three distinct forms: God the

1.nounB2
Definition

the Christian doctrine that the one God exists in three distinct forms: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit — a single divine being made up of three persons

Example

The concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian churches around the world.

the Trinity as a proper noun with definite article

During the service, the priest explained the Trinity as one God in three persons.

Common collocations
  • the Holy Trinity
  • the doctrine of the Trinity
  • belief in the Trinity
  • Trinity Sunday
  • the persons of the Trinity
Synonyms
  • Triune God

    more technical theological term; less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

the Trinity

Usage Note

Nearly always used with the definite article (the Trinity) and capitalised in Christian contexts. Functions as a modifier before other nouns (Trinity Church, Trinity College, Trinity Sunday).

Common Mistakes

The Trinity are three separate gods.
The Trinity is one God in three persons.
Christianity is monotheistic; the three persons are not three gods.
I believe in the Trinity God.
I believe in the Trinity.
'Trinity' already refers to God; adding 'God' is redundant.

2. a set of three people, ideas, or objects that are closely connected and work tog

2.nounC1
Definition

a set of three people, ideas, or objects that are closely connected and work together or form a meaningful whole

Example

A trinity of colours — red, gold, and blue — decorated the entrance to the royal hall.

trinity of [plural noun] for describing three elements

The captain, coach, and manager formed a trinity that led the club to victory.

Common collocations
  • form a trinity
  • a trinity of [plural noun]
  • act as a trinity
Synonyms
  • trio

    less formal, the everyday word for any three people or things together

  • triad

    more technical; used in sociology, criminology, and music theory

  • threesome

    informal; often implies a romantic or sexual context

  • triplet

    specific: one of three babies born together, or a matching set of three

Antonyms
  • monad

    a single unit; too rare for most learners

  • pair

    a group of two, the most common opposite

Grammar Patterns

trinity of [plural noun]

Usage Note

This sense is formal and far less common than the Christian meaning. Alternatives such as 'trio' (more casual) or 'group of three' (neutral) are usually better in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The painting shows a trinity of colours.' (when meaning three colours in a simple combination).
The painting shows a trio of colours.
'trinity' implies a close symbolic bond, not just any three items.
Idioms

the Trinity

idiom

a river in eastern Texas that flows in a southeast direction and empties into Galveston Bay

The family spent the weekend fishing along the banks of the Trinity in eastern Texas.

The Trinity River passes through Dallas and several other cities before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

Word family

  • trinitarian
    adjectiveC2
  • Trinitarianism
    nounC2
  • trine
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All five words describe a set of three, but they differ in tone and context. 'Trio' is the most general and everyday term — use it for musicians, friends, or any casual group of three. 'Triad' has a formal or technical flavour: sociologists study triads in group dynamics, music students learn major and minor triads, and the word also refers to Chinese organised crime groups. 'Threesome' is informal and in modern usage often carries a romantic or sexual implication, though it can appear neutrally (a threesome of siblings). 'Triplet' is narrower: it usually means one of three babies born at the same birth, or a set of three identical items. 'Trinity' stands apart because of its strong religious echo — even in secular use it suggests something solemn or symbolic rather than a mere collection of three. A weekend outing involves a trio of friends, not a trinity; but a nation's founding principles — liberty, equality, fraternity — might earn the title of a trinity.

trio ↗triadthreesome ↗triplet

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'trinitas', meaning 'the number three' or 'a triad'. This Latin noun was formed from 'trinus' (threefold), which itself comes from 'tres' (three). The Christian writer Tertullian (around 200 CE) was the first to use 'trinitas' as a theological term for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. English borrowed the word through Old French 'trinite' in the 13th century. The general sense of 'any group of three' developed several centuries later, though the word has always carried a strong religious undertone.