Judas

[ joo-duhs ]

noun

1. Also called Ju·das Is·car·i·ot [joo, -d, uh, s i-, skar, -ee-, uh, t]. the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.
2. a person treacherous enough to betray a friend; traitor.
3. Also called Saint Judas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus (not Judas Iscariot).
4. (in the Bible) a brother of James (and possibly of Jesus).
5. Usually judas. Also called judas hole. 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

/ ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

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

adjective

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

judas

²

/ ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. sometimes capital a peephole or a very small window in a door Also calledjudas windowjudas hole

Other Words From

• Ju·das·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Judas¹

C19: after Judas Iscariot

Example Sentences

The success of Get Out propelled Kaluuya to global fame, leading to roles in Black Panther and an Oscar-winning performance in Judas and the Black Messiah.

From BBC

“He is surely too ashamed to face any of us. Judas Iscariot would have a warmer reception,” said Terra Vance, an Appalachian activist who genealogy records show shares some ancestors with the politician.

From Los Angeles Times

“A fate I wouldn’t wish on Judas himself.”

From Literature

“The guy had a trajectory Judas Iscariot would have envied.”

From Seattle Times

Each winter, sharpshooters hired by the provincial government kill hundreds of wolves from low-flying helicopters, sometimes using a tracking collar attached to a “Judas wolf” that leads them to other pack members.

From Science Magazine