Hades

American  

[hey-deez] / ˈheɪ diz /

noun

1. Classical Mythology.

   1. the underworld inhabited by departed souls.

   2. the god ruling the underworld; Pluto.

2. (in the Revised Version of the New Testament) the abode or state of the dead.

3. (often lowercase) hell.

---

Hades British  

/ ˈheɪdɪən, ˈheɪdiːz, heɪˈdiːən /

noun

1. Greek myth

   1. the underworld abode of the souls of the dead

   2. Pluto, the god of the underworld, brother of Zeus and husband of Persephone

2. New Testament the abode or state of the dead

3. informal (often not capital) hell

---

Hades Cultural  

1. The Greek and Roman god of the underworld and the ruler of the dead. Also called Dis. The underworld itself was also known to the Greeks as Hades.

---

Discover More

The Greek and Roman underworld later became associated with the hell of Christianity, as in the expression “hot as Hades.”

Other Word Forms

• Hadean
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Hades

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Hades

The post-apocalyptic, jazzy New Orleans-style “Hadestown,” written by Anaïs Mitchell, is a mythical love story that follows young lovers Orpheus and Eurydice and the rulers of the underworld, Hades and Persephone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

While nLight’s lasers haven’t yet been used under combat conditions, the company has mounted its Hades 70kW units on U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

Nothing says “I’m building my brand” like a signature scent from Loewe or a standout patchwork cardigan from indie-darling brand Hades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

For example, I had no issues running some of this year's biggest games such as Hades II, Blue Prince and Hollow Knight: Silksong.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2025

She explained how Percy had met Bob, wiped his memory in the River Lethe, and left him in the care of Hades.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• inferno
• misery
• nightmare
• purgatory