ménage à trois

or menage a trois

[ mey-nahzh ah trwah; French mey-nazh a trwah ]

noun

, plural mé·na·ges à trois [mey-, nah, -zhiz ah , trwah].

1. a domestic arrangement in which three people, usually a heterosexual couple and one other person, are engaged in a sexual or romantic relationship and occupy the same household.
2. threesome ( def 4 ).

ménage à trois

/ menaʒ a trwɑ /

noun

1. a sexual arrangement involving a married couple and the lover of one of them

Word History and Origins

Origin of ménage à trois¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from French: “household of three”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ménage à trois¹

literally: household of three

Example Sentences

Some RealDoll customers are married and looking for a menage a trois, free from the messiness of added human feeling, but many others are recently single, divorced or widowed.

From The Guardian

The blog post described a threesome with an older man, and Ms. Mann had testified that weeks before the attack, Mr. Weinstein had tried to lure her into a menage a trois.

From New York Times

One of the most amusing chapters recounts how she organised a menage a trois for Simon’s 40th birthday present, writing about the experience in a magazine.

From The Guardian

The episode rounds out with him and his menage a trois partner Blair tracking the voice to a secret, makeshift laboratory.

From The Guardian

Oh, and he has to break up with Laura, the lead singer of his Latin Destiny's Child knockoff menage a trois.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• love affair
• threesome