Pontius Pilate Definition & Meaning

American

British

Cultural

Examples

Pontius Pilate American [pon-shuhs pahy-luht, -tee-uhs] / ˈpɒn ʃəs ˈpaɪ lət, -ti əs /

noun

1. flourished early 1st century a.d., Roman procurator of Judea a.d. 26–36?: the final authority concerned in the condemnation and execution of Jesus Christ.

Pontius Pilate British / ˈpɒnʃəs, ˈpɒntɪəs ˈpaɪlət /

noun

1. See Pilate

"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 Pilate, Pontius Cultural

1. The governor of the Jews (see also Jews) at the time of the Crucifixion of Jesus; he was an official of the Roman Empire, to which the Jewish nation belonged at that time. According to the Gospels, Pilate did not consider Jesus guilty and wanted to release him. Under pressure from the crowds in Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem), however, Pilate sentenced Jesus to death on the cross, having first washed his hands to indicate his lack of responsibility for Jesus' fate.

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.

"He cannot do a Pontius Pilate and maintain he cannot interfere because policing is devolved."

From BBC

He told Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting.”

From The Wall Street Journal

By stark contrast, his persecutors, led by King Herod and Pontius Pilate, wear severe white, floor-length robes and black coats.

From New York Times

Pontius Pilate, on the other hand, was a regional Roman dictator known not only for his cruelty, but also for his alliance with local religious leaders.

From Salon

According to the Christian faith, resurrection is the pivotal event when "God raised Jesus from the dead" after he was crucified by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

From Salon

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.