Apostate
/ˈæpəsteɪt/
nounadjectiveC2
Definition
An apostate is someone who stops believing in or supporting a religion, political group, or other strong belief they once followed. This word often has a serious meaning because leaving such beliefs can cause strong feelings in the person or others. As an adjective, it describes things related to this rejection or leaving.
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See It in Action
A person who abandons a religious or political belief
- •The apostate was no longer welcome in the religious community.
- •Many apostates face challenges when they leave their faith.
- •He was called an apostate for rejecting his former political party.
Describing something related to abandoning a belief
- •The apostate writings criticized the old religion.
- •An apostate movement can change the ideas of a group.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "apostate" like "leaver," but much stronger—it means leaving a deep belief, not just a place or group.
- ✓Picture a person turning away from a bright light (their old faith or belief) and walking into darkness or a new path.
- ✓It’s the feeling of breaking away from something very important and personal, which can be difficult or lonely.
- ✓Sounds like "A-post-ate" → imagine someone mailing (post) their old beliefs away, saying “I don’t want this anymore.”
- ✓In stories, an apostate might be a character who changes sides or leaves their group, causing drama or conflict.
- ✓NOT like "doubter" (someone unsure), an apostate has actively left or rejected the belief.
- ✓NOT like "convert" (someone who joins a belief), an apostate leaves or abandons it.
- ✓As a noun, it is a person; as an adjective, it describes actions or ideas related to this leaving.
Try Other Words
- •Renegade: a person who abandons a cause or group, often with rebellion (Use when the leaving is also against the group strongly)
- •Defector: someone who leaves one group to join another, often political (Use when the person joins a rival group)
- •Heretic: a person holding beliefs against the official religion (Use when focusing on wrong or different beliefs, not just leaving)
- •Turncoat: someone who changes sides, especially in politics or war (Use when emphasizing betrayal or switching sides)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "apo-" (away, off) + "-state" (from Greek "statos," meaning standing or position)
- •Etymology: From Greek "apostatēs," meaning one who stands away or deserts
- •Historical development: Used first in religious contexts to mean someone who leaves their faith; later broadened to political or other beliefs
- •Modern usage: Mostly used to describe people who leave strong beliefs, especially religion or politics, often with social or emotional consequences
Reflect & Connect
•What might make a person become an apostate, and how could their community react?
•How does the word apostate help us understand the importance of beliefs in people's lives?
Fill in the blanks
1.An apostate is someone who ___ a religion or belief they once followed deeply.
2.People may call someone an apostate when they ___ their old group publicly.
3.Unlike a doubter, an apostate has made a clear ___ to leave their faith.
4.The apostate writings often ___ the beliefs they left behind.
5.An apostate might face ___ or rejection from their former community.
6.When someone becomes an apostate, they usually feel ___ about their decision.
7.A person who simply questions beliefs is not an apostate until they ___ those beliefs.