Judas

noun

Ju·​das ˈjü-dəs How to pronounce Judas (audio)
1
a
: the apostle who in the Gospel accounts betrayed Jesus
b
: a son of James and one of the twelve apostles
2
: traitor
especially : one who betrays under the guise of friendship
3
not capitalized : peephole

called also judas hole, judas window

Examples of Judas in a Sentence

He was called a Judas by the press. she heatedly called her best friend a Judas after she found out her secrets had been spread all over town
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The cast includes Jaime Ward as Jesus, James Faulkner as Caiaphas, and Robert Knepper (Prison Break) as Judas. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025 Lady Gaga, in character as Mary Magdalene, monitors the final showdown between Jesus and Judas in this velvet hat shaped like the body of the Eraserhead baby. Kinsey Jasnoch, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025 Slayer and Pantera will perform Oct. 10; Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch on Oct. 11; Iron Maiden and Judas Priest on Oct. 12; and Mötley Crüe and Disturbed on Oct. 13. Michael McGough, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025 However, some Christians have criticized the musical for de-emphasizing the divinity of Jesus and showing Judas as a sympathetic character. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Judas

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek Ioudas, from Hebrew Yĕhūdhāh

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Judas was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Judas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Judas. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!