throuple

or thru·ple

[ thruhp-uhl ]

noun

1. three people who are engaged or married to one another, or involved as romantic partners:

   The throuple have been dating for the past two years and now live together in an intimate one-bedroom apartment.

Word History and Origins

Origin of throuple¹

First recorded in 1990–95; thr(ee) ( def ) + (c)ouple ( def )

Example Sentences

“Yep, Kim Jong-un and Putin made it official. Then they got a text from Trump that said, ‘Throuple?’”

From New York Times

“New Mistakes,” about a young woman attempting to get her life together after being dumped by a throuple, will be their first book.

From Los Angeles Times

Her wealthy parents may be spending their days naked and in a passionate throuple with her father’s hunky caregiver, but Carol just wishes she could still go to Applebee’s after work.

From New York Times

Ethicist: A throuple fell apart.

From New York Times

Modern Love: A throuple’s tricky geometry.

From New York Times