apostate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, literary
Quick answer
What does “apostate” mean?
A person who renounces a religious or political belief, principle, or cause.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who renounces a religious or political belief, principle, or cause.
Someone who has abandoned a previous loyalty, commitment, or affiliation; a defector, renegade, or turncoat, often used in contexts beyond religion, such as political parties, ideologies, or social movements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations of betrayal.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in political discourse, but overall equally low-frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “apostate” in a Sentence
apostate from [belief/cause/party]apostate to [new belief]apostate + relative clause (who...)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apostate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The verb form is 'apostatise'. He was accused of choosing to apostatise from the church's teachings.
American English
- The verb form is 'apostatize'. He was accused of choosing to apostatize from the party's core principles.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Apostatically' is theoretically possible but exceedingly rare.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Apostatically' is theoretically possible but exceedingly rare.
adjective
British English
- The apostate bishop was formally excommunicated.
- She wrote an apostate manifesto rejecting her former ideology.
American English
- He was labeled an apostate senator after his controversial vote.
- The group issued a fatwa against the apostate writer.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically for an executive who leaves for a rival firm with key secrets.
Academic
Common in religious studies, history, and political science texts discussing ideological shifts.
Everyday
Very rare. Used for dramatic effect when discussing someone who has fundamentally changed views.
Technical
Used in theology and religious law with specific doctrinal implications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apostate”
- Using it for any disagreement (must be a complete abandonment of core belief).
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (AP-ostate) instead of the second (a-POS-tate).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin and strongest use is religious, it is commonly applied to politics, ideologies, and any deeply held set of principles (e.g., 'an apostate from socialism').
A heretic deviates from official doctrine while still claiming membership in the group. An apostate completely abandons and renounces the group or belief system itself.
Not directly. The verb is 'apostatize' (US) / 'apostatise' (UK). 'Apostate' is primarily a noun and can be used attributively as an adjective.
No. It is a strongly pejorative term, implying betrayal. It is typically used by the group that feels abandoned, not as a neutral descriptor.
A person who renounces a religious or political belief, principle, or cause.
Apostate is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Apostate: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɒs.teɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɑːs.teɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms with 'apostate' as the core word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "A POST-ATE" – Someone who has "eaten" (embraced) a new belief AFTER (post) abandoning an old one.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAITH/LOYALTY IS A STRUCTURE; an apostate is one who DEMOLISHES or ABANDONS that structure.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'apostate' MOST appropriately used?