apostate

noun

apos·​tate ə-ˈpä-ˌstāt 

-stət

: one who commits apostasy

apostate adjective

Synonyms of apostate

• deserter
• traitor
• renegade
• rebel
• insurgent
• defector

Examples of apostate in a Sentence

an apostate from communism, he later became one of its harshest critics

became an apostate to liberalism after he had gotten wealthy

Recent Examples on the Web

Cornelius’s pontificate was complicated by a schism, caused by the self-appointment of the Roman priest Novatian as antipope (the second in papal history) and by the dispute over the church’s attitude toward Christian apostates. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Many members of today’s professional class are apostates, and this apostasy is worth taking seriously as a sign of an economic order that cannot seem to justify itself to its own public-relations arm. — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026

This documentary, featuring interviews with apostates, looks like a compelling deep dive. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026

This need that some MAGA apostates feel to rationalize their previous poor judgment can be harmless, if irritating. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apostata, apostate, in part continuing Old English apostata (weak noun), in part borrowed from Anglo-French apostate, apostata, both borrowed from Late Latin apostata "rebel against God, fallen Christian, heretic," borrowed from Late Greek apostátēs "rebel against God, apostate," going back to Greek, "defector, rebel," from aposta-, variant stem of aphístamai, aphístasthai "to stand away from, keep aloof from, revolt" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at apostasy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

apostate

noun

apos·​tate ə-ˈpäs-ˌtāt 

-tət

: one who commits apostasy

apostate adjective