1. The office, duties, or mission of an apostle.
2. An association of individuals for the dissemination of a religion or doctrine.

[Late Latin apostolātus, from apostolus, apostle. See apostle.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.