adj · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
ăpˌ-ə-stŏlʹ-ĭk
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌæp.əˈstɒl.ɪk/
US:/ˌæp.əˈstɑːl.ɪk/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AE2 P AH0 S T AO1 L IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Pertaining to apostles or their practice or teaching; pertaining to the apostles (of early Christianity) or their teachings.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
Examples
an apostolic mission
2008, Jonas Clark, Advanced Apostolic Studies, Spirit of Life Publishing, page 60, Apostolic churches break out of the four walls of the sanctuary onto the streets and into the homes to preach the Gospel.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or taught by the apostles.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
apostolic faith or practice
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of or pertaining to the Catholic missions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Alternative letter-case form of apostolic
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A member of the Apostolici.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective
Meaning 7
of or relating to or deriving from the Apostles or their teachings
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: apostolical
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective
Meaning 8
proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
papal dispensation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: papal, apostolical, pontifical
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h2epó Proto-Hellenic *apó Ancient Greek ᾰ̓πό (ăpó) Ancient Greek ἀπο- (apo-) Proto-Indo-European *stel-der. Proto-Hellenic *stéľľō Ancient Greek στέλλω (stéllō) Ancient Greek ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō) Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (apóstolos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek ἀποστολικός (apostolikós)bor. Latin apostolicuslbor. English apostolic Learned borrowing from Latin apostolicus (“apostolic”), from Ancient Greek ἀποστολικός (apostolikós, “apostolic”).
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
առաքելական
(aṙakʻelakan)
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Bulgarian:
апостолски
(apostolski)
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Catalan:
apostòlic
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Cornish:
abostolek
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Czech:
apoštolský
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Danish:
apostolisk
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Esperanto:
apostola
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Faroese:
ápostolskur
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Finnish:
apostolinen
— pertaining to (the) apostles
French:
apostolique
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Galician:
apostólico
— pertaining to (the) apostles
German:
apostolisch
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Greek:
αποστολικός
(apostolikós)
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Ancient Greek:
ἀποστολικός
(apostolikós)
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Icelandic:
postullegur
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Irish:
aspalda
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Irish:
aspalach
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Italian:
apostolico
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Latin:
apostolicus
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Norman:
apostolique
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Norwegian Bokmål:
apostolisk
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Polish:
apostolski
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Portuguese:
apostólico
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Russian:
апо́стольский
(apóstolʹskij)
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Serbo-Croatian:
apostolski
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Serbo-Croatian:
апостолски
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Lower Sorbian:
pósołski
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Spanish:
apostólico
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Swedish:
apostolisk
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Tagalog:
alagarin
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Welsh:
apostolaidd
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Welsh:
apostolig
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Yiddish:
אַפּאָסטאָליש
(apostolish)
— pertaining to (the) apostles
Armenian:
առաքելական
(aṙakʻelakan)
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Catalan:
apostòlic
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Cornish:
abostolek
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Danish:
apostolisk
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Esperanto:
apostola
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Faroese:
ápostolskur
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Finnish:
apostolinen
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
French:
apostolique
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Galician:
apostólico
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Ancient Greek:
ἀποστολικός
(apostolikós)
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Icelandic:
postullegur
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Irish:
aspalda
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Irish:
aspalach
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Italian:
apostolico
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Latin:
apostolicus
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Norman:
apostolique
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Norwegian Bokmål:
apostolisk
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Polish:
apostolski
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Portuguese:
apostólico
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Spanish:
apostólico
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Swedish:
apostolisk
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Welsh:
apostolaidd
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Welsh:
apostolig
— according to the doctrines of the apostles
Catalan:
apostòlic
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Dutch:
apostolisch
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Galician:
apostólico
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Norwegian Bokmål:
apostolisk
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Norwegian Bokmål:
pavelig
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Polish:
apostolski
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Polish:
papieski
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Portuguese:
apostólico
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Spanish:
apostólico
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Swedish:
apostolisk
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
Welsh:
apostolaidd
— pertaining to the pope or the papacy
