member of Jewish group: a member of an ancient Jewish group of priests and aristocrats who accepted the literal interpretation of the Torah but rejected Oral Law and belief in the afterlife. Sadducees favored accommodation with the Roman occupiers of Palestine.
[Pre-12th century. Via late Latin< late Greek Saddoukaios< post-biblical Hebrew Ṣĕḏūqī "follower of Zadok" < Ṣāḏōq "Zadok," high priest who supposedly founded the group]
