Judas
noun
the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.
Judas
American
[joo-duhs]
/ ˈdʒu dəs /
noun
-
Judases
plural
-
Also called Judas Iscariot. the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.
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a person treacherous enough to betray a friend; traitor.
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Also called Saint Judas, Saint Jude. one of the 12 apostles of Jesus (not Judas Iscariot).
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(in the Bible) a brother of James (and possibly of Jesus).
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Also called judas hole. Usually judas a peephole, as in an entrance door or the door of a prison cell.
adjective
Judas
1
British
/ ˈdʒuːdəs /
noun
-
Full name: Judas Iscariot. New Testament the apostle who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver (Luke 22:3–6, 47–48)
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a person who betrays a friend; traitor
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a brother or relative of James and also of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). This figure, Thaddaeus, and Jude were probably identical
adjective
judas
2
British
/ ˈdʒuːdəs /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of judas
C19: after Judas Iscariot
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The cult star promised covers of metal staples like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, as well as "a few originals forged in the same cosmic fire."
From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026
In 2 Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus offers prayers for the dead—meaningful only if the soul can be aided after death—but Protestants typically consider the book extracanonical.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
Judas Priest's rendition of the Black Sabbath classic was released on Friday with all profits donated to the Glenn Tipton Parkinson's Foundation and Cure Parkinson's.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025
The conflict between Erivo’s all-seeing, all-feeling Jesus and Lambert’s competitive yet remorseful Judas was thrillingly brought to life in their different yet wholly compatible musical styles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2025
She has spent part of the night in her kitchen, praying before a tall candle adorned with the image of San Judas Tadeo.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
A quivering voice came at the last from behind the iron judas in the door.
From The Laughing Cavalier The Story of the Ancestor of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
There were stealthy steps within, with a movement of yellow light, and then a voice that Mr. Wogan knew very well came through a judas.
From Parson Kelly by Andrew Lang
It had penetrated his dull wits that he had been the tool of a judas, who sought to sell the castle for a thousand florins.
From Love-at-Arms by Rafael Sabatini
Then a slide would slyly uncover a little brass "judas," disclosing a little, black, hard eye.
From Mlle. Fouchette A Novel of French Life by Charles Theodore Murray
Anon a tiny judas in the gate was cautiously pushed open, and a peremptory voice once again challenged the midnight intruder.
From El Dorado, an adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
Along the way, he encounters revolutionaries, tyrants, false prophets and actual Judases — not to mention a string of passionate lovers.
From New York Times ● Mar. 6, 2023
Several productions have featured female Judases — an added layer of psychological complexity.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 30, 2018
These were promptly denounced as turncoats and Judases by Peasant Leader Maniu but remained silent on their dignity.
From Time Magazine Archive
Honor the Judases, the Benedict Arnolds of the working class?
From The Red Conspiracy by Joseph J. Mereto
They were like the two Judases in Scripture, of whom some one had said, "What one gave to the devil, the other brought back to God."
From Sidonia, the Sorceress : the Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania — Volume 1 by Wilhelm Meinhold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
