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

The first such, that of John McCain, in September of 2018, felt like a meeting of the resistance, a clarion call to take up arms where the late senator, another Republican who turned apostate rather than submit to Trump, had left them on the field. —Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025

In Iran, Baha’is are considered to be apostates and face persecution, marked by extreme violence including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

On the walls, someone had spray painted graffiti calling Alawites dogs and apostates. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025

As the developed north lectures this new generation of Latin American leaders to abide by neoliberal, democratic norms and isolating apostates, China and Russia are all too willing to provide an alternative. —Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2022

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