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• Judas
  Judas

  noun

  the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.
• judas
  judas

  noun

  (sometimes capital) a peephole or a very small window in a door

Judas

American  

[joo-duhs] / ˈdʒu dəs /

noun

• Judases
  plural

1. Also called Judas Iscariot.  the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.

2. a person treacherous enough to betray a friend; traitor.

3. Also called Saint Judas,.  Also called Saint Jude.  one of the 12 apostles of Jesus (not Judas Iscariot).

4. (in the Bible) a brother of James (and possibly of Jesus).

5. Also called judas hole.  Usually judas a peephole, as in an entrance door or the door of a prison cell.

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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 British  

/ ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. 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)

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

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adjective

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

judas ² British  

/ ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. Also called: judas window.   judas hole.  (sometimes capital) a peephole or a very small window in a door

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Judaslike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Judases
  plural

Etymology

Origin of judas

C19: after Judas Iscariot

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Judas judas Judases

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

Lambert, a fan-favorite “American Idol” runner-up who began performing with Queen in 2011, plays Judas to Erivo’s Jesus in the Hollywood Bowl production directed by Tony-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2025

But we’ve never seen one like this before: A Judas kiss that went straight to the heart and shattered their deepest convictions.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2025

To a Karhider reading our canons, the crime of Judas lies not in his betrayal of Christ but in the act that, sealing despair, denies the chance of forgiveness, change, life: his suicide.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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

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

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

Soon he heard a soft grating behind the judas, and he felt—more than he saw—that a pair of eyes were peering at him from within.

From The Laughing Cavalier The Story of the Ancestor 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

Pablo had the brasero and the wood, and Tonio and Tita brought up the rear with the molasses jug, the cooking-dishes, and their Judases all carefully packed together.

From The Mexican Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins

The hands of the Judases were stuck straight out on each side and from one hand to the other there was a string stretched.

From The Mexican Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins