Definition of: apostle

(ə·pos′əl) noun
1. One of the twelve disciples originally commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel (Matt. x 2–4); later also denoting Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot (Acts i 26), and Paul (Row. i 1).
2. One of a class of missionaries or preachers in the early church (I Cor. xii 28).
3. A Christian missionary who first evangelizes a nation or place.
4. The earliest or foremost advocate of a cause.
5. In the Mormon Church, one of the twelve members of the church's administrative council. See PRESIDENCY (def. 4). [OE apostol <L apostolus <Gk. apostolos one sent forth, a messenger < apostellein < apo- from + stellein send]
—a·pos′tle·ship, a·pos·to·late (ə·pos′tə·lit, -lāt) noun