Greek for 'one sent forth' — originally a naval term for a dispatched fleet, adopted by early Christians.
Each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ; more broadly, a vigorous and pioneering advocate of a particular cause or movement.
From Old English 'apostol,' borrowed from Latin 'apostolus,' from Greek 'apostolos' (ἀπόστολος), meaning one who is sent forth, a messenger or envoy. The Greek word derives from 'apostellein' (ἀποστέλλειν), to send away or dispatch, formed from 'apo-' (away from) and 'stellein' (to send, to set in order). In pre-Christian Greek, 'apostolos' was a naval term for a fleet dispatched on a mission. Early Christians adopted it as the title for Jesus's chosen messengers. Key roots: apo- (ἀπο-) (Greek: "away from, off"), stellein (στέλλειν) (Greek: "to send, set in order
Before Christianity gave it a sacred meaning, Greek 'apostolos' was a mundane naval and commercial term — it referred to a cargo ship or a fleet dispatched on an expedition. The early Christians' adoption of this workaday word for their most revered missionaries was a deliberate rhetorical choice, emphasizing that the disciples were practical envoys, not mystical figures.