apostasy

American  

[uh-pos-tuh-see] / əˈpɒs tə si /

noun

plural

apostasies

1. a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc.

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apostasy British  

/ əˈpɒstəsɪ /

noun

1. abandonment of one's religious faith, party, a cause, etc

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Usage

What does apostasy mean? Apostasy is the act of totally abandoning or rejecting one’s religion (or the state of having abandoned or rejected it). It can also be used in a slightly more general way to refer to the act of totally abandoning or rejecting one’s principles, cause, party, or other organization. The word typically implies that before the rejection, one had a strong connection or involvement. Someone who abandons their religion or cause in this way can be called an apostate. Both apostasy and apostate are usually used in a way that’s critical of such abandonment—or that at least implies that others who remain in the religion or cause are critical of the departure. Apostasy is sometimes used more specifically to refer to a rejection of Christianity, but the term is also used in the context of other religions, such as Islam. A common misspelling of apostasy is apostacy. Example: The pastor’s sermon condemned apostasy—the trouble is, the apostates weren’t there to hear it.

Etymology

Origin of apostasy

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English apostasye, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin apostasia, from Greek: “defection, revolt, withdrawal,” from apóstas(is) (equivalent to apo- apo- + stásis stasis ) + -ia -ia

Explanation

If your lifelong Republican-voting grandfather suddenly decides to register as a Democrat, some of his conservative friends may consider his change in politics to be apostasy, or rejecting what has been a strong belief and adopting a new one. When you abandon a set of beliefs, especially when they're religious beliefs, you can be accused of apostasy, which in some countries is actually illegal. It's taken seriously by many churches, since the rejection of a church's ideas can be seen as a criticism of the entire organization. Over time, the meaning of apostasy has grown to include non-religious examples, like your grandfather's political switch.

Example Sentences

Longstreet’s prominence made his apostasy an especially dangerous threat.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2023

Still, I pressed on to see where the author was going with this horticultural apostasy.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2023

“There are about a dozen countries in the world where apostasy or blasphemy is, at least in theory, subject to the death penalty,” he said.

From Washington Times • Jan. 31, 2023

His apostasy did not prevent the spread throughout Europe and the Ottoman Empire of — well, let’s call it his sect, though in some ways Sabbatianism was a new religion.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2022

Too proud to acknowledge publicly the error which his heart recognized, he continued his apostasy until his death, by apoplexy, January 10, 1890.

From The War Upon Religion Being an Account of the Rise and Progress of Anti-christianism in Europe by Cunningham, Francis A. (Francis Aloysius)