trident

1 of 2

noun

tri·​dent ˈtrī-dᵊnt How to pronounce trident (audio)
1
: a 3-pronged spear serving in classical mythology as the attribute of a sea god (such as Neptune)
2
: a 3-pronged spear (as for fishing)

trident

2 of 2

adjective

: having three teeth, processes, or points

Did you know?

A trident has three prongs or teeth, as the root dent, "tooth", tells us. The trident has long been used to spear fish in different parts of the world, so there's no mystery about why the Greek sea god Poseidon and his Roman counterpart Neptune both carry a trident as their symbol. In some gladiator exhibitions in ancient Rome, one gladiator, called a retiarius ("net man"), would be equipped as though he were a fisherman, with a weighted net and a trident; with his net he would snare his sword-wielding opponent, and with his trident he would spear his helpless foe.

Examples of trident in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The early shark’s most notable features are its branched teeth that resemble tridents. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 Or maybe a more fluid trident of Miguel Almiron (Paraguay), Iñaki Williams (Ghana) and Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia) would be more modern? Rory Smith, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024 Burtka opted for the likeness of Poseidon the god of the sea, carrying a trident and wearing shelled armor. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023 And cinema’s mightiest heroes, from Ant-Man to Aquaman, were told to hang up their tights and tridents as comic book movies suffered a historic collapse at the box office. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Dec. 2023 There’s plenty of 3D action, underwater creatures and powerful tridents in this outing, but don’t expect Momoa’s Aquaman to show up in Gunn and Safran’s new DC Universe. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 Dec. 2023 While searching for the technology needed to repair his gear, Manta discovers a powerful black trident and is possessed by an ancient, evil force that wants to warm the planet and free itself. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2023 Jason Momoa recently addressed reports that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom might mark his last time picking up a trident as the King of Atlantis . Vulture, 16 Dec. 2023 According to Mundo Deportivo on Friday, then, Xavi and his staff already have a new attacking trident in mind, but only one of its three components is currently on the books at Camp Nou. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 20 May 2022
Adjective
Overview More than just a modern mid-engine supercar, the 2024 Maserati MC20 represents a return to the trident brand’s core ethos. Andrew Wendler, Car and Driver, 6 Sep. 2023 Species available through the program this fall include trident maple, river birch, sweetgum, willow oak, and dawn redwood. Brittany Bowker, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023 In early April, Pacific closed its acquisition of the Trident fish meal plant, which converts fish waste to fish food. Jeff Manning | The Oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, 12 May 2017 Time is of the essence: The commercial season for Pacific whiting, the kind of fish the Trident plant in Newport is equipped to process, opens Monday. Jeff Manning | The Oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, 12 May 2017 Today, American Ohio-class and British Vanguard-class submarines are equipped with a sixth-generation Trident weapons system. David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, 13 Feb. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trident.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin trident-, tridens, from trident-, tridens having three teeth, from tri- + dent-, dens tooth — more at tooth

Adjective

Latin trident-, tridens

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trident was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near trident

Cite this Entry

“Trident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trident. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trident

noun
tri·​dent
ˈtrīd-ᵊnt
: a spear with three prongs
trident adjective
Etymology

Noun

from Latin trident-, tridens "trident," from tridens (adjective) "having three teeth," from tri- "three" and dens "tooth" — related to dental

More from Merriam-Webster on trident

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