Jump To:

• 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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

An image of the Catholic saint San Judas Tadeo on the floor of a building in the Cabañas La Loma complex in Tapalpa.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2026

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

Even today, she asks schoolchildren if they have heard of Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, which she still counts among her favorite bands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

Heavy metal band Judas Priest have released a charity single featuring the late Ozzy Osbourne to raise money for Parkinson's disease charities.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025

Maybe nail clippers, a rosary, or a scapular with a tiny drawing of San Cristobal, the patron saint of travelers, or of San Judas Tadeo, the patron saint of desperate situations.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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

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

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

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

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

The Twins and Pablo with their precious Judases went to a bench near the fountain, and sat down to watch the fun.

From The Mexican Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins