Group of three part-patriots (4)

I believe the answer is:

trio

'group of three' is the definition.
(eg group of three musicians)

'part-patriots' is the wordplay.
'part' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'TRIO' is hidden in the letters of 'patriots'.

(Other definitions for trio that I've seen before include "Riot (anag)" , "father, spirit and son" , "Musical group" , "Beethoven's 'Archduke', for example" , "Chamber group" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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