apostatize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Theological
Quick answer
What does “apostatize” mean?
To formally abandon or renounce one's religious faith, political party, or principles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To formally abandon or renounce one's religious faith, political party, or principles.
To completely and often publicly defect from a long-held belief, doctrine, allegiance, or cause, typically viewed as a betrayal by former associates.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. 'Apostatise' is the standard British English spelling, while 'apostatize' is the standard American English spelling.
Connotations
Equally formal and strong in both variants.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects, primarily used in theological, historical, or political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “apostatize” in a Sentence
[Subject] apostatizes (from [Object/Group])[Subject] is accused of apostatizingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apostatize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Several members of the sect chose to apostatise rather than face persecution.
- The historian wrote about kings who were forced to apostatise under threat of invasion.
American English
- The regime accused dissidents of apostatizing from the state ideology.
- He formally apostatized from the church in a letter to the bishop.
adverb
British English
- He left the community apostatisingly, burning his religious texts.
- (Extremely rare usage)
American English
- (Extremely rare usage; 'apostatically' exists but is obsolete)
adjective
British English
- The apostatising monk was excommunicated.
- They faced apostatising members with severe penalties.
American English
- The apostatizing senator was vilified by his former party.
- Apostatizing thoughts were considered dangerous heresy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Potentially metaphorical use in 'He apostatized from the company's founding principles.'
Academic
Common in religious studies, history, and political science to describe formal renunciation of belief or allegiance.
Everyday
Very rare; considered a high-register, specific term.
Technical
Specific term in theology and canon law, where it has precise definitions and consequences.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apostatize”
- Misspelling: 'apostacize', 'appostatize'.
- Using it for simple disagreement or mild change of opinion.
- Incorrect stress: placing it on the first syllable (A-post-a-tize) instead of the second (a-POST-a-tize).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its most common and historical use is religious, it can be applied to any deeply held ideology, political doctrine, or set of principles from which one makes a formal, public break.
'Convert' means to adopt a new belief. 'Apostatize' specifically means to abandon an old one, often with a negative connotation from the perspective of the abandoned group. One can convert without apostatizing (if they had no prior strong faith), but apostatizing often implies a conversion to something else or to nothing.
The main noun forms are 'apostasy' (the act or state) and 'apostate' (the person who apostatizes).
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. You will encounter it primarily in academic, historical, religious, or high-register political contexts, not in everyday conversation.
To formally abandon or renounce one's religious faith, political party, or principles.
Apostatize is usually formal, academic, theological in register.
Apostatize: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɒstətaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɑːstətaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. Related concept: 'turn one's coat' (change allegiance).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a POST with a sign for your faith/party. To APOSTATIZE is to take an AXE (sounds like '-atize') and chop down that POST, publicly destroying your connection to it.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAITH/ALLEGIANCE IS A STRUCTURE ONE INHABITS. Apostatizing is the act of violently or formally demolishing that structure and walking away from the ruins.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates the meaning of 'apostatize'?