# trinity

/ˈtɹɪnəti/ (US) · /tɹˈɪnɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trinity
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a group of three

noun · CEFR B2

a group of three people or things that are seen as a single unit.

For teachers: a group or set of three people or things; a triad or trio considered as a collective whole.

- The film's success was built on a trinity of great acting, music, and directing.
- The architect's design was based on a holy trinity of light, space, and sustainable materials, ensuring the building felt both modern and natural.

### 2. the Christian Godhead

noun · CEFR B2

in the Christian religion, the three parts of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

For teachers: the union of three divine persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one Godhead.

- The priest spoke about the mystery of the Trinity during the Sunday service.
- Medieval theologians spent centuries debating the nature of the Trinity and how three distinct persons could exist as one essence.

### 3. academic term

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

the third and final part of the school year at some universities, like Oxford or Dublin.

For teachers: the third term of the academic year at the University of Oxford, the University of Dublin, and other institutions.

- Students are busy preparing for their final exams during the Trinity term.
- The university traditionally holds its most prestigious garden parties during the final weeks of Trinity.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'Trinity' or 'Trinity term'.

### 4. nuclear test

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the code name for the first time a nuclear bomb was ever exploded, in 1945.

For teachers: the code name of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, conducted by the United States Army in New Mexico in 1945.

- The Trinity test changed the course of human history forever.
- Scientists at Los Alamos watched the Trinity explosion from a distance, realizing the terrifying power they had unleashed.

## Examples

- The band is a trinity of guitar, bass, and drums.
- The legal system relies on a trinity of powers: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
- The philosopher argued that the human experience is a trinity of mind, body, and spirit, where no single element can be understood in isolation from the others.

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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.