Word
apostasy
Phoneticsapos·ta·sy
UK/ɐpˈɒstəsi/
Definition
n. the act of leaving a religion or a political group that you were a member of. It is often seen as a very serious or shocking choice.
n. the formal renunciation of a religion, political party, or other group to which one previously belonged. Often carries a strong negative or scandalous connotation.
Examples
“The leader's apostasy caused a major split in the party.”
“The former minister's public apostasy from the party's core values led to his immediate resignation.”
“Historians often debate whether the emperor's apostasy was a calculated political move or a genuine crisis of faith that destabilized the empire.”
Examples
simple
“The leader's apostasy caused a major split in the party.”
contextual
“The former minister's public apostasy from the party's core values led to his immediate resignation.”
complex
“Historians often debate whether the emperor's apostasy was a calculated political move or a genuine crisis of faith that destabilized the empire.”
Real-World Examples
“Some 13 countries have the death penalty for blasphemy or apostasy, 40 have prison sentences and 18 more have some other criminal restrictions.” “He says the Syrian army "will not allow them to topple the regime" or "to Islamise the country" and "let it be [controlled by] Takfiries [a Muslim who accuses another Muslim of apostasy]".” Etymology
From Latin apostasia, from Ancient Greek ἀποστασία (apostasía, “defection, revolt”), from ἀφίστημι (aphístēmi, “I withdraw, revolt”), from ἀπό (apó, “from”) + ἵστημι (hístēmi, “I stand”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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