ménage à trois

Definition

A household or relationship whereby three people live together as lovers.

Etymology

Borrowed from French ménage à trois (literally “household of three”).

Example Sentences

• "Old men frequently marry young girls, but then the portion is high and the ménage à trois common."
• ""We are certainly going to be happy—we three—in this innocent ménage à trois," she said. "I don't know what more you two men could ask for—or I, either—or the children or Eileen."
• "[…]if she frowned—and there could be no doubt that she was frowning now—what lay before him, before them? A scamped and mean ménage à trois, existence eked out with the aid of Mrs. Knyvett’s scanty resources, and soured by her laments!"