apostasy

apos·ta·sy

noun \ə-ˈpäs-tə-sē\

plural apos·ta·sies

Definition of APOSTASY

1

: renunciation of a religious faith

2

: abandonment of a previous loyalty : defection

Origin of APOSTASY

Middle English apostasie, from Late Latin apostasia, from Greek, literally, revolt, from aphistasthai to revolt, from apo- + histasthai to stand — more at stand

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Rhymes with APOSTASY

isostasy