Samson

American  

[sam-suhn] / ˈsæm sən /

noun

1. a judge of Israel famous for his great strength. Judges 13–16.

2. any man of extraordinary physical strength.

3. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “like the sun.”

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Samson British  

/ ˈsæmsən /

noun

1. a judge of Israel, who performed herculean feats of strength against the Philistine oppressors until he was betrayed to them by his mistress Delilah (Judges 13–16)

2. any man of outstanding physical strength

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Samson Cultural  

1. In the Old Testament, an Israelite servant of God who pitted his invincible strength and his wits against the Philistines on many occasions. He was eventually betrayed by his lover, the beautiful Delilah, who tricked Samson into telling her that the secret of his strength lay in his uncut hair. Delilah cut Samson's hair while he slept, and then called for the Philistines, who captured and blinded him. During his captivity, Samson's hair grew back, and he eventually pulled the Philistines' banquet hall down on their heads.

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Other Word Forms

• Samsonian
  adjective

Example Sentences

Musk spoke remotely at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv early Monday, claiming that autonomous Tesla robo-taxis will “probably” be “widespread in the U.S. by the end of this year.”

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Musk, speaking virtually at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv, was asked to describe an exciting breakthrough technology that he’s working on and that people “aren’t talking about enough.”

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

"What really attracted most people is his no filter," says Pittsburgh native Tom Samson, 81, the retired owner of a pest control business.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Like the character in his earlier spy novels, there is little glamour in the life of the jaded and cynical Samson, who has a healthy disregard for his bosses.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Freddie mumbles through his cake, Samson, and Mrs. Leibowitz tells him, Don’t talk wiz you mouse full, and I laugh because she’s grown-up and she says mouse instead of mouth.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt