Jonah

[ joh-nuh ]

/ ˈdʒoʊ nə /

noun

a Minor Prophet who, for his impiety, was thrown overboard from his ship and swallowed by a large fish, remaining in its belly for three days before being cast up onto the shore unharmed.

a book of the Bible bearing his name.

any person or thing regarded as bringing bad luck.

Also Jo·nas

[joh-nuh s] /ˈdʒoʊ nəs/. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “dove.”

Related forms

Jo·nah·esque, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for jonas

Now Nick Jonas, freshly 22 years old and leaving his days as a mommy-approved Jonas Brothers crooner behind, is following suit.
Nick Jonas Is All Grown Up, Clutching His Penis and Everything|Kevin Fallon|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“[She] said that at one point I was too heavy, that I was crushing her,” Jonas says.
Nick Jonas Is All Grown Up, Clutching His Penis and Everything|Kevin Fallon|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Following in those shrewd, shirtless footsteps, perhaps one day Jonas will be peed on by Nicole Kidman, too.
Nick Jonas Is All Grown Up, Clutching His Penis and Everything|Kevin Fallon|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Giver, in a pivotal moment, tells Jonas that releasing is actually a form of euthanizing.
Why 'The Giver' Movie Will Disappoint the Book's Fans|Kevin Fallon|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But aging Jonas also has the perhaps unintended effect of making his naiveté seem slightly imbecilic.
Why 'The Giver' Movie Will Disappoint the Book's Fans|Kevin Fallon|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Poor Jonas was compelled to obey, and being placed on shore, the boat again pulled away.
Ben Burton|W. H. G. Kingston
Jonas muttered something to himself, when he saw him sitting up beneath the hedge, looking vacantly around.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit|Charles Dickens
"Such a calm and pleasant day in February portends a storm," said Jonas.
Jonas on a Farm in Winter|Jacob Abbott
But there are times when things like that don't matter—'Jonas, you were born to be a minister.
Anne Of The Island|Lucy Maud Montgomery
Old Jonas P. Lonergan, his crutch beside him, is lying comfortably in another lounging chair.
Frances of the Ranges|Amy Bell Marlowe

British Dictionary definitions for jonas

Jonah

Jonas (ˈdʒəʊnəs)

/ (ˈdʒəʊnə) /

noun

Old Testament

a Hebrew prophet who, having been thrown overboard from a ship in which he was fleeing from God, was swallowed by a great fish and vomited onto dry land
the book in which his adventures are recounted

a person believed to bring bad luck to those around him; a jinx

Derived Forms

Jonahesque, adjective

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