Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

Maccabees

Noun

/ˈmakəˌbēz/

Definition

The Maccabees are a group of Jewish rebel warriors who led a revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

Examples

The Maccabees are celebrated during the festival of Hanukkah, which commemorates their victory.
The struggle of the Maccabees is recorded in the books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha.
Figures like Judas Maccabeus became symbols of courage and resistance in Jewish history.

Meaning

The term ‘Maccabees’ is often used to refer to the leaders of the Hasmonean dynasty and their descendants, known for their fight for Jewish freedom and independence.