# threesome

/ˈθɹisəm/ (US) · /θɹˈiːsʌm/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/threesome
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a group of three people who do something together. It is often used to describe three people having sex together, but it can also mean a group of three in sports or music.

For teachers: a group of three people engaged in a joint activity. While frequently used to describe a sexual encounter involving three participants, it also applies to trios in golf or musical ensembles.

## Examples

- The three friends formed a threesome for the golf tournament.
- After their third partner joined the venture, the duo became a productive threesome that managed the firm effectively.
- The narrative explores the shifting dynamics of a domestic threesome, tracing how the introduction of a third party destabilizes the original couple's long-standing emotional equilibrium.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in both casual social contexts and specific sexual contexts; the latter is the dominant modern association.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.