apostle

noun apos·tle \ ə-ˈpä-səl \

|Updated on: 29 Jul 2018

Definition of apostle

1 : one sent on a mission: such as

a : one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up especially of Christ's 12 original disciples and Paul

b : the first prominent Christian missionary to a region or group

St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany

2 a : a person who initiates a great moral reform or who first advocates an important belief or system

b : an ardent supporter : adherent

apostles of high technology

3 : the highest ecclesiastical official in some church organizations

4 : one of a Mormon administrative council of 12 men

—

apostleship

play \-ˌship\ noun

See apostle defined for English-language learners

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Examples of apostle in a Sentence

a fervent apostle of universal health care

Recent Examples of apostle from the Web

Judas, the apostle known for betraying Jesus, is believed to be the 13th guest at the Last Supper.

— emily deciccio, Fox News, "Why is Friday the 13th so spooky?," 13 July 2018
In the Gospel of Mary, which isn’t officially recognized by the Church, Mary Magdalene is framed as the only disciple who truly understands Jesus’ spiritual message, which puts her in direct conflict with the apostle Peter.

— Time, "The Real Reason Why Mary Magdalene Is Such a Controversial Figure," 30 Mar. 2018
Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830 in Palmyra, New York, after God revealed to him that the true Gospel had disappeared, corrupted following the death of Jesus and his apostles.

— sarah scoles, Longreads, "Meet the New Mormons," 8 June 2018
Zhadan’s apostles encounter one another at weddings, funerals, bars, and deathbeds.

— linda kinstler, Longreads, "Angrily Experiencing the Best Days of Our Lives," 27 June 2018
The main apostles are Will Bryant (Peter) and Simon Longnight (Simon Zealots).

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "Seven Angels Annouces 2018-19 Season; CT Rep Casts 'Superstar'," 20 June 2018
The group is modeled after Jesus Christ's apostles.

— CBS News, "Mormons make history, tap Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares for top leadership," 31 Mar. 2018
Buenos Aires would invite Le Corbusier, the Swiss apostle of towerblocks and bulldozers, to reimagine the Argentine capital from scratch.

— jason farago, New York Times, "How Latin America Was Built, Before Modernism Came Along," 18 Apr. 2018
Tony Award-winning producer and Hamilton alum Brandon Victor Dixon will star as the infamous, traitorous apostle in NBC’s live musical, the network announced Thursday.

— shirley li, EW.com, "Jesus Christ Superstar Live," 22 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apostle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of apostle

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French apostle & Old English apostol, both from Late Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos, from apostellein to send away, from apo- + stellein to send

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year