# disciple

/dɪˈsaɪpəɫ/ (US) · /dɪsˈaɪpəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disciple
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. religious follower

noun · CEFR B2

one of the original followers of Jesus Christ, or a person who follows a religious leader.

For teachers: a follower of Jesus Christ, especially one of the twelve apostles, or an adherent to any religious leader's teachings.

- The Bible tells stories about the twelve disciples who traveled with Jesus.
- The sermon focused on the devotion of the early disciples and their commitment to spreading the gospel despite significant persecution.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Disciple' when referring specifically to the biblical figures.

### 2. student of a philosophy

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

someone who follows the ideas and teachings of a famous person or a specific way of thinking.

For teachers: an active follower or adherent of a particular person, school of thought, or philosophy.

- As a young architect, he was a devoted disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright.
- Though he never met the philosopher in person, he remained a lifelong disciple of the school of Stoicism.

Teaching tip: In modern secular contexts, this word suggests a very high level of devotion, almost like a religious commitment.

### 3. to teach or convert

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to teach someone to follow a specific set of beliefs or a leader.

For teachers: to train, educate, or convert someone into a follower of a specific doctrine or leader.

- The organization aims to disciple new members in the traditions of the church.
- The ministry's primary mission was to disciple young converts through a rigorous three-year program of study and service.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- He was a devoted disciple of the famous painter.
- The young writer attended every lecture, acting as a loyal disciple to the aging professor.
- In the early church, the twelve disciples formed the core group that spread the teachings across the Roman Empire.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.