Passover

American  

[pas-oh-ver, pahs-] / ˈpæsˌoʊ vər, ˈpɑs- /

noun

1. Also called Pesah.  Also called Pesach.  a Jewish festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and is marked chiefly by the Seder ritual and the eating of matzoth. It begins on the 14th day of Nisan and is celebrated for eight days by Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel and for seven days by Reform Jews and Jews in Israel.

2. (lowercase) paschal lamb.

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Passover British  

/ ˈpɑːsˌəʊvə /

noun

1. Also called: Pesach.   Pesah.   Feast of the Unleavened Bread.  an eight-day Jewish festival beginning on Nisan 15 and celebrated in commemoration of the passing over or sparing of the Israelites in Egypt, when God smote the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exodus 12)

2. another term for the Paschal Lamb

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Passover ¹ Cultural  

1. The deliverance of the Israelites from the worst of the plagues of Egypt, and the annual festival kept afterward in memory of the event. Through Moses, God told the Israelites to prepare a special meal to be eaten in haste the evening before their escape from Egypt (see also Egypt) (see Exodus), with a whole roasted lamb as the main dish. The blood from the lamb was to be used to mark the Israelites' houses. That night, God would send the angel of Death to kill the firstborn males of the Egyptians (this was the worst of the plagues of Egypt), but God would see the blood on the Israelites' houses, and he would command his angel to “pass over” — to kill no one there. God told Moses that the Israelites were to repeat the meal each spring on the anniversary of their departure from Egypt. The Jews (see also Jews) keep the festival of Passover to this day.

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Passover ² Cultural  

1. Among Jews (see also Jews), the festival commemorating the Exodus, the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (see also Egypt). During Passover, unleavened bread, called matzo, is eaten. In the course of the festival, the story of the Exodus is read.

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Usage

What is Passover? Passover is a Jewish festival that commemorates the Exodus, the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, where they had been enslaved. It is considered one of the most important Jewish holidays.Jews traditionally celebrate Passover with family and friends by holding a ceremonial meal called a Seder, which consists of special symbolic dishes, including unleavened bread called matzo.Passover can also be called Pesach or Pesah, and is sometimes referred to as the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

Discover More

The Last Supper of Jesus and his Apostles was a Passover meal. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus were explained by the Apostles as the new Passover of the New Testament.

Etymology

Origin of Passover

First recorded in 1520–30; noun use of verb phrase pass over, as translation of Hebrew pesaḥ

Example Sentences

As Israel prepared for the Passover holiday, which began at sunset Wednesday, air raid sirens sounded repeatedly in the Tel Aviv area.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Passover begins halfway through Nisan, external, the first month of that calendar, which is with the arrival of the April full Moon, external.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

The problems with airport security come as spring-break season has arrived or is nearing for universities and school systems across the country, and as many families plan to travel for Easter or Passover.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

About 100 people were inside the synagogue at the time celebrating the last day of Passover.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

Could I possibly come over on Passover? he had wanted to know.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok