matzo

American  

[maht-suh, mah-tsah, mah-tsaw] / ˈmɑt sə, mɑˈtsɑ, ˈmɑ tsɔ /

Or matzah,

noun

• matzos,
  plural
• matzoth,
  plural
• matzot
  plural

1. unleavened bread in the form of large crackers, typically square and corrugated, eaten by Jews during Passover.

2. one of these crackers.

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matzo British  

/ ˈmætˈsəʊ, ˈmætsə /

noun

1. a brittle very thin biscuit of unleavened bread, traditionally eaten during Passover

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matzo Cultural  

1. A flat piece of unleavened bread, resembling a large cracker, used by Jews (see also Jews) in place of yeast bread during Passover (see also Passover). According to the biblical account of Passover, God directed the ancestors of the Jews to eat unleavened bread, rather than delay their departure from Egypt (see also Egypt) by waiting for bread to rise.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• matzos
  plural
• matzot
  plural
• matzoth
  plural

Etymology

Origin of matzo

First recorded in 1840–50; from Yiddish matse, from Hebrew maṣṣāh

Explanation

Matzo is a cracker-like bread that's traditionally eaten during Passover. When matzo is ground into a flour, it can be used to make matzo balls for soup. During the Jewish holiday of Passover, observant Jews don't eat anything that's leavened, like yeast bread that rises before being baked. Matzo is a good, if crispy, substitute for bread, and it's unleavened. Matzo is also symbolic, representing both freedom and humility. It's sometimes spelled matzoh or matzah, from the Hebrew matztzah, "unleavened bread," or literally, "juiceless."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

matzo matzos matzot matzoth

On the first evening, about 100 activists, many Jewish, sat in a circle to pray, sing, drink grape juice and eat matzo ball soup, matzo crackers and watermelon.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2024

While their dough takes about 2 minutes to cook, in a real matzo factory the oven is 2000 degrees and is done in seconds, Raskin said.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 20, 2024

Add the sparkling water if you want the matzo balls fluffy, and mix well until well combine.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2023

Soon lunch arrives, an international smorgasbord of latkes, kale salad, a chicken quesadilla and matzo ball soup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2023

“We could do something Jewish, like matzo balls,” Elizabeth suggests, rubbing her eyes under her glasses.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Evenly pour the toffee on top of the salted matzos and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2023

One of those “impactful” elements is the three pieces of unleavened bread — matzos — which are contained in a “Matzo Tosh,” or bag, he said.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 4, 2023

If you don’t prefer gluten-free matzos, substitute a traditional matzo mix, she also notes.

From Fox News ● Nov. 30, 2021

The ghetto had kosher butchers and grocers, and for cooking, the residents shared two communal ovens at the synagogue: one used year-round for bread, and the other for Passover matzos.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2018

As each family in turn gets the use of the public baking-oven, it is necessary to start soon after Purim to prepare the special flour used for matzos.

From Pictures of Jewish Home-Life Fifty Years Ago by Hannah Trager

In one story, it is 1959 and Mr. Lois is a young ad man with the Goodman’s matzot account.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 21, 2022

In Manhattan, an ecumenical group of friends sits down to a classic Seder meal including the symbolic foods: matzoth, bitter herbs and haunch of spring lamb.

From Time Magazine Archive

But in many of these places, one does not live by matzoth, pita or tortillas alone.

From Time Magazine Archive

Soviet diplomats, by now well-accustomed to confrontations with Jewish organizations over the treatment of Soviet Jews, quickly devised a counterploy: they refused to accept delivery and dumped the matzoth into the laps of the U.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

After feasting on chicken soup with matzoth balls, gefilte fish, and boiled beef with horseradish, it is inconceivable that one drop of animosity toward Israel could remain in Feisal's kingly body.

From Time Magazine Archive

Come! raise thyself to spheres more glorious, He'll follow when thou matzoth his sight.

From The Poems of Goethe Translated in the original metres by Edgar Alfred Bowring