Maccabees
plural noun
Mac·ca·bees
ˈma-kə-(ˌ)bēz 
1
: a priestly family leading a Jewish revolt begun in 168 b.c. against Hellenism and Syrian rule and reigning over Palestine from 142 b.c. to 63 b.c.
2
singular in construction
: either of two narrative and historical books included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and in the Protestant Apocrypha see Bible Table
Examples of Maccabees in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabees' unlikely victory over the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
—
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees after it was destroyed by the Syrians while keeping everyone safe and healthy.
—Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 9 Dec. 2024
The Maccabees were led by Judah and rededicated the temple to their god.
—Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of one day's worth of oil lasting for eight days after Syrian Greeks defiled the Jerusalem Temple before the Maccabees, a group of Jewish soldiers, defeated them.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 Dec. 2024
The Maccabees will perform their first live show in eight years at London’s All Points East festival in Victoria Park on August 24, 2025.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
The Jewish festival celebrates the revolt of the Maccabees against Greek rule.
—Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2023
But the more historic recounting of the Hanukkah story is told in the Book of Maccabees.
—TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
After the Maccabees recaptured ancient Jerusalem, the lamp in the temple only had enough oil for one night, yet miraculously burned for eight nights.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023
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Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees after it was destroyed by the Syrians while keeping everyone safe and healthy.
—Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 9 Dec. 2024
The Maccabees were led by Judah and rededicated the temple to their god.
—Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of one day's worth of oil lasting for eight days after Syrian Greeks defiled the Jerusalem Temple before the Maccabees, a group of Jewish soldiers, defeated them.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 Dec. 2024
The Maccabees will perform their first live show in eight years at London’s All Points East festival in Victoria Park on August 24, 2025.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
The Jewish festival celebrates the revolt of the Maccabees against Greek rule.
—Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2023
But the more historic recounting of the Hanukkah story is told in the Book of Maccabees.
—TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
After the Maccabees recaptured ancient Jerusalem, the lamp in the temple only had enough oil for one night, yet miraculously burned for eight nights.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near Maccabees
Cite this Entry
“Maccabees.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Maccabees. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Maccabees
noun
Mac·ca·bees
ˈmak-ə-bēz
: either of two narrative and historical books included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and in the Protestant Apocrypha see bible
Biographical Definition
Maccabees
biographical name
Mac·ca·bees
ˈma-kə-ˌbēz
Judas or Judah died 161 b.c. surname
Maccabaeus
ˌma-kə-ˈbē-əs
Jewish patriot
Jewish patriot
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