Apostasy
noun /əˈpɒs.tə.si/ — The abandonment of a religion, belief, or political allegiance
Definition
The formal abandonment or renunciation of a religion, political belief, or principle one previously held. Apostasy is the conscious departure — not merely drifting from a belief but actively leaving it. In some contexts, it remains a capital offence.
Beyond the definition
Apostasy is the most personal form of intellectual courage — the public departure from a community of belief that defined your life. The apostate becomes an outsider twice: first by leaving, then by the community's response to the departure.
Origin & history
Greek: apostasia (defection, revolt, departure). From apo- (away) + stasis (standing). To stand away from — the act of removing yourself from what you previously stood within.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her apostasy from the movement cost her friendships she'd had for twenty years.
In several countries, apostasy from Islam remains a legal crime carrying severe penalties.
Apostasy is the word for leaving a faith — and faiths don't always allow graceful exits.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Apostasy” when the meaning fits your context: The formal abandonment or renunciation of a religion, political belief, or principle one previously held. Apostasy is the conscious departure — not merely drifting from a belief but actively leaving it. In some contexts, it remains a capital offence.
Synonyms
defection, renunciation, abandonment of faith
Antonyms
conversion, adherence, faith
Related words
Apostasy vs heresy
Apostasy describes leaving a religion entirely. Heresy describes staying within the religion but disagreeing with specific teachings.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Potential to Abandon Form
An artist's palette shows swirling pigments that blend into new, subtle shades.
The blending pigments represent the potential to deviate from a single color. Apostasy is the active departure from a previously held belief, just as the artist actively changes the mixture on the palette to create something entirely different from the source.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Apostasy" mean?
Apostasy is noun meaning: The abandonment of a religion, belief, or political allegiance. The formal abandonment or renunciation of a religion, political belief, or principle one previously held. Apostasy is the conscious departure — not merely drifting from a belief but actively leaving it. In some contexts, it remains a capital offence.
Where does the word "Apostasy" come from?
Greek: apostasia (defection, revolt, departure). From apo- (away) + stasis (standing). To stand away from — the act of removing yourself from what you previously stood within.