WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Sad•du•cee
(saj′ə sē′, sad′yə-),USA pronunciation n. [Judaism.]
Sad′du•ce′an, adj.
Sad′du•cee′ism, n.
- Judaisma member of a Palestinian sect, consisting mainly of priests and aristocrats, that flourished from the 1st century b.c.to the 1st centurya.d.and differed from the Pharisees chiefly in its literal interpretation of the Bible, rejection of oral laws and traditions, and denial of an afterlife and the coming of the Messiah.
- Hebrew ṣədhūqī adherent of Zadok
- Greek saddoukaîoi
- Late Latin saddūcaeī
- Middle English sadducees (plural), Old English saddūcēas bef. 1000
Sad′du•cee′ism, n.