Masada

American  

[muh-sah-duh, muh-tsah-dah] / məˈsɑ də, mə tsɑˈdɑ /

noun

1. a mountaintop fortress in E Israel on the SW shore of the Dead Sea: site of Zealots' last stand against the Romans during revolt of a.d. 66–73.

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Masada British  

/ məˈsɑːdə /

noun

1. an ancient mountaintop fortress in Israel, 400 m (1300 ft) above the W shore of the Dead Sea: the last Jewish stronghold during a revolt in Judaea (66–73 _ad ). Besieged by the Romans for a year, almost all of the inhabitants killed themselves rather than surrender. The site is an Israeli national monument

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Example Sentences

My brother had his bar mitzvah at the mountaintop fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2025

He seems enamored of the myth of Masada, the ancient fortification in southern Israel, where, in the 1st century A.D., almost 1,000 rebels battled off Roman invaders.

From Slate • Mar. 26, 2024

He went on to win an Emmy award in 1981 for outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or special for his portrayal of Pomponius Falco in the television miniseries Masada.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2022

“There are so many positive images in the show,” said Masada.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2022

As soon as the Romans had retired, Simon again sallied forth from Masada, collected a great number of Idumeans, and drove them before him into Jerusalem.

From For the Temple A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)