adjective
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of, relating to, deriving from, or contemporary with the Apostles
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of or relating to the teachings or practice of the Apostles
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of or relating to the pope regarded as chief successor of the Apostles
Other Word Forms
- apostolical adjective
- apostolically adverb
- apostolicalness noun
- apostolicism noun
- apostolicity noun
- nonapostolic adjective
- nonapostolical adjective
- nonapostolically adverb
- postapostolic adjective
- postapostolical adjective
- proapostolic adjective
Etymology
Origin of apostolic
First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin apostolicus, from Greek apostolikós, from apóstol(os) apostle + -ikos -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A diocese statement said the case was put last week before an apostolic tribunal in Spain.
From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025
Francis praised her on Sunday as a “model of apostolic fervor and audacity for us,” and he urged his listeners to overcome prejudice and fear and be close to the poor.
From New York Times • Feb. 12, 2024
It’s a movement that has, as its core idea, apostolic governance.
From Slate • Jan. 6, 2024
Father Doug Owens, delegate to the apostolic administrator in the Diocese of Knoxville, shared news of the verdict in the criminal case “with great relief.”
From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023
Cardinal Wiseman, who took his title from this church, considers it was the principal place of worship in Rome after apostolic times, being founded on the site of the house where St. Paul lodged, A.D.
From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
