apostolic

[ ap-uh-stol-ik ]
See synonyms for apostolic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of or characteristic of an apostle.

  2. pertaining to or characteristic of the 12 apostles.

  1. derived from the apostles in regular succession.

  2. of or relating to the pope; papal.

Origin of apostolic

1
First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin apostolicus, from Greek apostolikós, from apóstol(os) apostle + -ikos -ic
  • Also ap·os·tol·i·cal [ap-uh-stol-i-kuhl] /ˌæp əˈstɒl ɪ kəl/ .

Other words from apostolic

  • ap·os·tol·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • ap·os·tol·i·cism [ap-uh-stol-uh-siz-uhm], /ˌæp əˈstɒl əˌsɪz əm/, noun
  • a·pos·to·lic·ity [uh-pos-tl-is-i-tee], /əˌpɒs tlˈɪs ɪ ti/, ap·os·tol·i·cal·ness, noun
  • non·ap·os·tol·ic, adjective
  • non·ap·os·tol·i·cal, adjective
  • non·ap·os·tol·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • post·ap·os·tol·ic, adjective
  • post·ap·os·tol·i·cal, adjective
  • pro·ap·os·tol·ic, adjective

Words Nearby apostolic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use apostolic in a sentence

  • His whole apostolic life was one long and arduous preparation for coming events.

  • Do you suppose the 'church of God,' in whose interests this paper is printed, can be that pure apostolic church?

    Around Old Bethany | Robert Lee Berry
  • He began negotiations for a college at Strasburg, and made apostolic excursions to that place as well as to Freiburg and Alsace.

    The Jesuits, 1534-1921 | Thomas J. Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for apostolic

apostolic

/ (ˌæpəˈstɒlɪk) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, deriving from, or contemporary with the Apostles

  2. of or relating to the teachings or practice of the Apostles

  1. of or relating to the pope regarded as chief successor of the Apostles

Derived forms of apostolic

  • apostolical, adjective
  • apostolically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012