hametz

or cha·metz

[ Sephardic Hebrew khah-mets; Ashkenazic Hebrew khaw-mits ]

noun

, Hebrew.

1. a food forbidden for use by Jews during the festival of Passover, especially a baked food, as bread or cake, made with leaven or a leavening agent.
2. a dish, kitchen utensil, or the like used in preparing or serving such food and similarly forbidden for use during Passover.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hametz¹

ḥāmēṣ literally, that which is leavened

Example Sentences

Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to noon: Mark the end of Passover with all things leavened at the Hametz Fest.

From Washington Post

Hametz, the Hebrew word for leaven, are foods forbidden during the Passover holiday, particularly products made from flour, such bread, crackers and pretzels.

From Washington Post

Still taboo for all Jews during Passover are any foods that are leavened - called hametz - including such grains as wheat, barley, oats, rye and spelt.

From Reuters

The revised rite even endorses a search for the hametz, in which pieces of leavened bread are hidden so that children can have the delight of hunting for them.

From Time Magazine Archive