apostolic

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UK/ˌæp.əˈstɒl.ɪk/US/ˌæp.əˈstɑːl.ɪk/

adjective

Pertaining to apostles or their practice or teaching; pertaining to the apostles (of early Christianity) or their teachings.

“an apostolic mission”

Less commonScrabble 13

Meanings

apostolic1

adjective

alternative Apostolic · alternative apostolical

  1. ChristianityPertaining to apostles or their practice or teaching; pertaining to the apostles (of early Christianity) or their teachings.

    an apostolic mission

    5 more examples

    Amply shall I deem myself remunerated if either by the holy Charm, the good Spell of Leighton's Words, than which few if any since the Apostolic age better deserve the name of Evangelical, or by my own notes and interpolations, the reflecting Reader should be enabled to apprehend—for we may rightly apprehend what no finite mind can fully comprehend—and attach a distinct meaning to, the Mysteries into which his Baptism is the initiation; and thus to feel and know, that Christian Faith is the perfection of Human Reason.

    1825, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Reflections respecting Morality”, in Aids to Reflection, page 58

    Chapter 3 demonstrated that high churchmen perceived the Church of England to be a visible society and a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, though they particularly emphasized the apostolicity of the church.

    1993, Robert D. Cornwall, Visible and Apostolic: The Constitution of the Church in High Church Anglican and Non-Juror Thought, University of Delaware Press, Associated University Presses, page 74

    That was the story of The Salvation Army repeated in many places, at least partly because a small group of people touched the power of the apostolic anointing.[…]In this true story about William Booth, we have an example of what is meant to happen under apostolic grace.

    2002, John Kingsley Alley, The Apostolic Revelation: The Reformation of the Church, Peace Publishing, page 153

    I would like to give this dissertation on the apostolic world of thought in early Christian iconography the subtitle of 'In the land of the blessed' —'Μακάρων ἐνἱ χώρῳ'.

    2004, Arnold Provoost, “The Apostolic Way of Thought in Early Christian Iconography”, in A. Hilhorst, editor, The Apostolic Age in Patristic Thought, BRILL, page 158

    2008, Jonas Clark, Advanced Apostolic Studies, Spirit of Life Publishing, page 60, Apostolic churches break out of the four walls of the sanctuary onto the streets and into the homes to preach the Gospel.

  2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or taught by the apostles.

    apostolic faith or practice

  3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal.
  4. Of or pertaining to the Catholic missions.
nounapostolic (plural apostolics)

plural apostolics · alternative Apostolic · alternative apostolical

  1. historicalChristianityA member of the Apostolici.

Apostolic2

adjective
  1. Alternative letter-case form of apostolic

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveof or relating to or deriving from the Apostles or their teachings

adjectiveproceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ep
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂epó
  3. Proto-Hellenic*apó
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓πό (ăpó)
  5. Ancient Greekἀπο- (apo-)
  6. Proto-Indo-European*stel-
  7. Proto-Hellenic*stél͏̌l͏̌ō
  8. Ancient Greekστέλλω (stéllō)
  9. Ancient Greekἀποστέλλω (apostéllō)
  10. Ancient Greekἀπόστολος (apóstolos)
  11. Ancient Greekἀποστολικός (apostolikós)
  12. Latinapostolicu
  13. Englishapostolic

Learned borrowing from Latin apostolicus (“apostolic”), from Ancient Greek ἀποστολικός (apostolikós, “apostolic”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀποστολικός, ἀποστολικός
  • ἀποστολικός (apostolikós)according to the doctrines of the apostles
  • ἀποστολικός (apostolikós)pertaining to (the) apostles
Bulgarian апостолски
  • апостолски (apostolski)pertaining to (the) apostles
Catalan apostòlic, apostòlic
  • apostòlicaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostòlicpertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostòlicpertaining to (the) apostles
Czech apoštolský
  • apoštolskýpertaining to (the) apostles
Danish apostolisk, apostolisk
  • apostoliskaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostoliskpertaining to (the) apostles
Dutch apostolisch
  • apostolischpertaining to the pope or the papacy
Esperanto apostola, apostola
  • apostolaaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostolapertaining to (the) apostles
Finnish apostolinen, apostolinen
  • apostolinenaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostolinenpertaining to (the) apostles
French apostolique, apostolique
  • apostoliqueaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostoliquepertaining to (the) apostles
German apostolisch
  • apostolischpertaining to (the) apostles
Greek αποστολικός
  • αποστολικός (apostolikós)pertaining to (the) apostles
Icelandic postullegur, postullegur
  • postulleguraccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • postullegurpertaining to (the) apostles
Irish aspalda, aspalach
  • aspaldaaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • aspalachaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • aspaldapertaining to (the) apostles
  • aspalachpertaining to (the) apostles
Italian apostolico, apostolico
  • apostolicoaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostolicopertaining to (the) apostles
Latin apostolicus, apostolicus
  • apostolicusaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostolicuspertaining to (the) apostles
Norwegian Bokmål apostolisk, apostolisk
  • apostoliskaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostoliskpertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • paveligpertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostoliskpertaining to (the) apostles
Polish apostolski, apostolski
  • apostolskiaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostolskipertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • papieskipertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostolskipertaining to (the) apostles
Portuguese apostólico, apostólico
  • apostólicoaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostólicopertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostólicopertaining to (the) apostles
Russian апо́стольский
  • апо́стольский (apóstolʹskij)pertaining to (the) apostles
Spanish apostólico, apostólico
  • apostólicoaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostólicopertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostólicopertaining to (the) apostles
Swedish apostolisk, apostolisk
  • apostoliskaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostoliskpertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostoliskpertaining to (the) apostles
Tagalog alagarin
  • alagarinpertaining to (the) apostles
Welsh apostolaidd, apostolig
  • apostolaiddaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostoligaccording to the doctrines of the apostles
  • apostolaiddpertaining to the pope or the papacy
  • apostolaiddpertaining to (the) apostles
  • apostoligpertaining to (the) apostles
Yiddish אַפּאָסטאָליש
  • אַפּאָסטאָליש (apostolish)pertaining to (the) apostles
Cite this entry
APA

apostolic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apostolic

MLA

“apostolic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apostolic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apostolic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apostolic.

Source: apostolic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.