apostate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
    ratter; renegade; deserter; turncoat; recreant.
  2. adjective satellite not faithful to religion or party or cause

WordNet

A*pos"tate noun
Etymology
L. apostata, Gr. , fr. . See Apostasy.
Definitions
  1. One who has forsaken the faith, principles, or party, to which he before adhered; esp., one who has forsaken his religion for another; a pervert; a renegade.
  2. (R. C. Ch.) One who, after having received sacred orders, renounces his clerical profession.
A*pos"tate adjective
Definitions
  1. Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to moral allegiance; renegade.
    So spake the apostate angel. Milton.
    A wretched and apostate state. Steele.
A*pos"tate intransitive verb
Etymology
L. apostatare.
Definitions
  1. To apostatize. Obs.
    We are not of them which apostate from Christ. Bp. Hall.

Webster 1913