apostasy
noun
apos·ta·sy
ə-ˈpä-stə-sē 
plural apostasies
1
: an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith
2
: abandonment of a previous loyalty : defection
Examples of apostasy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The diehard climate activists have an orthodoxy from which even the slightest deviation is apostasy.
—
Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Whether his parents realize the extent of his apostasy isn’t clear.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
Sharia, or Islamic religious law, as interpreted by the government considers conversion from Islam apostasy, a crime punishable by death, according to the U.S. State Department.
—Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Snuffer is a lawyer who lives in Utah and was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 2013 for apostasy.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for apostasy
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Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Whether his parents realize the extent of his apostasy isn’t clear.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
Sharia, or Islamic religious law, as interpreted by the government considers conversion from Islam apostasy, a crime punishable by death, according to the U.S. State Department.
—Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Snuffer is a lawyer who lives in Utah and was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 2013 for apostasy.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for apostasy
Cite this Entry
“Apostasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apostasy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
apostasy
noun
apos·ta·sy
ə-ˈpäs-tə-sē
plural apostasies
: a giving up of a religious faith or a previous loyalty
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