apostle
C1formal, religious, literary
Definition
Meaning
Each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ, sent out to spread his teachings.
A zealous advocate or promoter of a particular cause, belief, or policy; a leading missionary or early Christian leader.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries a dual sense: the specific, historical/religious referent (the Twelve) and a broader metaphorical meaning (any ardent champion). The metaphorical use often implies missionary zeal, pioneering work, or foundational influence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in denotation. The term is used identically in religious contexts. In metaphorical use, both varieties employ it similarly.
Connotations
Strongly associated with Christian tradition. Metaphorical use can be slightly archaic or elevated in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech for both; slightly higher in contexts discussing religion, history, or philosophy.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
apostle of [cause/person]apostle to [people/place]apostle for [cause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “apostle of the sword (historical, for militant evangelism)”
- “a doubting Thomas (from Apostle Thomas)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'He was an apostle for the new corporate ethics policy.'
Academic
Common in theology, religious studies, history. Metaphorical use in humanities/philosophy.
Everyday
Very low frequency. Mostly in religious discussion or fixed phrases ('doubting Thomas').
Technical
Specific term in biblical scholarship and church history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- apostolic succession
- apostolic teachings
American English
- apostolic authority
- apostolic church
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Peter was one of the twelve apostles.
- We learned about the apostles in class.
- Saint Paul is often called the apostle to the Gentiles.
- She is a true apostle for environmental causes.
- He was regarded as the apostle of non-violence in the region.
- The early apostles travelled widely to establish new churches.
- John Wesley, the 18th-century theologian, is seen by many as the apostle of Methodism.
- Her work positioned her as an apostle of the modern architectural movement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A POSTLE sends LETTERS (like the Epistles in the New Testament) to spread the message.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ADVOCATE IS A MISSIONARY; A PIONEERING FIGURE IS A FOUNDATIONAL DISCIPLE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'апостол' (which is correct) and 'апостроф' (apostrophe).
- The metaphorical use ('apostle of peace') translates as 'апостол', but can sound overly literal/churchy in Russian. 'Проповедник', 'поборник', 'сторонник' might be more natural in secular contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: /ˈæpəsl̩/ (incorrect stress).
- Misspelling: 'apostal', 'apostel'.
- Confusing 'apostle' (person) with 'apostrophe' (punctuation mark).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'apostle' in modern usage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core meaning relates to the disciples of Jesus. However, it is used metaphorically for any passionate pioneer or advocate of a cause (e.g., 'an apostle of science').
No, 'apostle' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'to evangelise' or 'to preach'.
A 'disciple' is a follower or student. An 'apostle' is a disciple specifically sent out on a mission. All apostles were disciples, but not all disciples were apostles in the formal sense.
Stress the second syllable: uh-POSS-ul. The 't' is silent. British: /əˈpɒsl̩/, American: /əˈpɑːsl̩/.
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