Meaning & use

trident

noun·Academic

A spear with three prongs, traditionally carried by sea gods such as Poseidon and Neptune.

See it in a sentence

The statue in the fountain shows Neptune raising his trident above the waves.

Some navies name submarines or missile programs after the trident because of its association with sea power.

A note on using this word

Trident appears often in mythology and heraldry, and its three-pronged shape gives its name to certain missile systems.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “trident”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.