Judas Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms Judas American [joo-duhs] / ˈdʒu dəs /

noun

1. Also called Judas Iscariot. the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.

2. a person treacherous enough to betray a friend; traitor.

3. Also called Saint Judas,. Also called Saint Jude. one of the 12 apostles of Jesus (not Judas Iscariot).

4. (in the Bible) a brother of James (and possibly of Jesus).

5. Also called judas hole. Usually judas a peephole, as in an entrance door or the door of a prison cell.

adjective

1. (of an animal) used as a decoy to lead other animals to slaughter.

   A Judas goat led sheep into the abattoir.

Judas 1 British / ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. Full name: Judas Iscariot. New Testament the apostle who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver (Luke 22:3–6, 47–48)

2. a person who betrays a friend; traitor

3. a brother or relative of James and also of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). This figure, Thaddaeus, and Jude were probably identical

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

1. denoting an animal or bird used to lure others of its kind or lead them to slaughter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 judas 2 British / ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. Also called: judas window. judas hole. (sometimes capital) a peephole or a very small window in a door

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• Judaslike adjective

Etymology

Origin of judas

C19: after Judas Iscariot

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Adam Lambert was the electric Judas to Erivo’s nuclear Jesus, and the energy they emitted was more than enough to power all of social media for a few days in August.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2 Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus offers prayers for the dead—meaningful only if the soul can be aided after death—but Protestants typically consider the book extracanonical.

From The Wall Street Journal

Heavy metal band Judas Priest have released a charity single featuring the late Ozzy Osbourne to raise money for Parkinson's disease charities.

From BBC

Coincidentally, his breakout role came in 2016 when he landed the co-lead as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

From Los Angeles Times

In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ the conflict between Cynthia Erivo’s all-seeing, all-feeling Jesus and Adam Lambert’s competitive yet remorseful Judas was thrillingly brought to life in their different yet wholly compatible musical styles.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.