Judaism

American  

[joo-dee-iz-uhm, -day-, -duh-] / ˈdʒu diˌɪz əm, -deɪ-, -də- /

noun

1. the monotheistic religion of the Jews, having its ethical, ceremonial, and legal foundation in the precepts of the Old Testament and in the teachings and commentaries of the rabbis as found chiefly in the Talmud.

2. belief in and conformity to this religion, its practices, and ceremonies.

3. this religion considered as forming the basis of the cultural and social identity of the Jews.

   He called assimilation a threat to American Judaism.

4. Jews collectively; Jewry.

---

Judaism British  

/ ˈdʒuːdeɪˌɪzəm /

noun

1. the religion of the Jews, based on the Old Testament and the Talmud and having as its central point a belief in the one God as transcendent creator of all things and the source of all righteousness

2. the religious and cultural traditions, customs, attitudes, and way of life of the Jews

---

Judaism Cultural  

1. The religion of the Israelites of the Bible (see also Bible) and of the Jews (see also Jews) of today, based on the teachings of the Torah. Judaism involves the belief in one God, whose Chosen People are the Jews. Abraham is considered the founder of Judaism, although Moses, who delivered the laws of God to the Israelites, is also an important figure. The holy days and festivals of Judaism include Hanukkah, Passover (see also Passover), Purim, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. (See also Sabbath.)

---

Discover More

A symbol (see also symbol) of Judaism, the Star of David is a six-pointed star, formed by placing two triangles together, one upon the other, or interlaced.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Judaism
  noun
• pro-Judaism
  noun
• Judaistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Judaism

1485–95; < Late Latin jūdaismus < Greek ioudaismós, equivalent to Ioudaî ( os ) Jew + -ismos -ism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Judaism

“Jews are not a single ethnicity. Judaism is a religion,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

"My Judaism is to love the creation that God has created."

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Although it overlaps with Christianity and Judaism, civil religion draws on the scientific and secular contributions that have also informed America’s public institutions, going beyond the “doctrines of any particular church.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

This includes excluding other major faiths including Judaism, one of the foundational belief systems of the traditional Christian faith.

From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026

We’re taught that Western civilization originated in the Near East, was brought to brilliant heights in Europe by the Greeks and Romans, and produced three of the world’s great religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond