threefold

[ three-fohld ]

adjective

1. comprising three parts, members, or aspects; triple:

   a threefold program.

2. three times as great or as much; treble:

   a threefold return on an investment.

adverb

1. in threefold manner or measure; trebly.

threefold

/ ˈθriːˌfəʊld /

adjective

1. equal to or having three times as many or as much; triple

   a threefold decrease

2. composed of three parts

   a threefold purpose

adverb

1. by or up to three times as many or as much

Word History and Origins

Origin of threefold¹

before 1000; Middle English threfold, Old English thrīfeald. See three, -fold

Example Sentences

About 13% of those investigated for involvement in terrorism were under 18 - a threefold increase in the last three years, he added.

From BBC

Washington annually gives Israel more than $3 billion in aid, ratcheting that figure up threefold since Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

During his tenure, the country has "grown to become the world’s fifth-largest economy. It’s almost twice as big as it was, and its stock market has grown threefold since he took office."

From Salon

“We had a threefold increase in referrals of patients who were wanting to be scheduled to discuss vasectomies and the number of vasectomies performed around this time increased dramatically.”

From Los Angeles Times

According to the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, the percentage of rent that public housing agencies across the country were unable to collect from tenants grew threefold between 2019 and 2022.

From Seattle Times