apostolic

adjective

ap·​os·​tol·​ic ˌa-pə-ˈstä-lik 

1

a

: of or relating to an apostle

b

: of, relating to, or conforming to the teachings of the New Testament apostles

2

a

: of or relating to a succession of spiritual authority from the apostles held (as by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox) to be perpetuated by successive ordinations of bishops and to be necessary for valid sacraments and orders

b

: papal

apostolicity

ə-ˌpä-stə-ˈli-sə-tē 

noun

Examples of apostolic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

View Comments The Friday event, which took place inside the Vatican’s apostolic palace, included a roundtable discussion on AI ethics and governance. —Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

The Friday event, which took place inside the Vatican’s apostolic palace, included a roundtable discussion on AI ethics and governance. —Cnn.com, Mercury News, 20 June 2025

In 2014, he was named apostolic administrator and then bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

Brothers of Pope Leo XIV share their reactions 01:43 In Peru, Leo served as a missionary and taught canon law and was later appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and later the bishop of Chiclayo. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appostolike, borrowed from Late Latin apostolicus, borrowed from Late Greek apostolikós, from Greek apóstolos "messenger, envoy, apostle" + -ikos -ic entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing apostolic

• apostolic delegate
• prefect apostolic
• prefecture apostolic
• prothonotary apostolic
• protonotary apostolic
• vicar apostolic

Rhymes for apostolic

• alcoholic
• anabolic
• catabolic
• cytosolic
• diabolic
• diastolic
• ethanolic
• hyperbolic
• melancholic
• metabolic
• methanolic
• parabolic

Kids Definition

apostolic

adjective

ap·​os·​tol·​ic ˌap-ə-ˈstäl-ik 

1

: of or relating to an apostle or the apostles

2

: papal