disciple

noun

dis·​ci·​ple di-ˈsī-pəl 

1

: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: such as

a

Christianity : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts

b

: a convinced adherent of a school or individual

a disciple of Freud

2

capitalized Christianity : a member of the Disciples of Christ founded in the U.S. in 1809 that holds the Bible alone to be the rule of faith and practice, usually baptizes by immersion, and has a congregational (see congregational sense 3) polity

discipleship

di-ˈsī-pəl-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• acolyte
• adherent
• convert
• epigone
• follower
• liege man
• partisan
• partizan
• pupil
• votarist
• votary

Choose the Right Synonym for disciple

follower, adherent, disciple, partisan mean one who gives full loyalty and support to another.

follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

an evangelist and his followers

adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

adherents to Marxism

disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

disciples of Gandhi

partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

partisans of the President

Examples of disciple in a Sentence

a disciple of Sigmund Freud

a circle of dedicated disciples who conscientiously wrote down everything the prophet said

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout the 1970s, Butler ran a produce farm, where today many of his disciples work, Robin Marshall, a former SIF member, told Newsweek November 22. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

With Herro playing off the ball more frequently this season, and with Robinson a disciple of the Reggie Miller constant-movement school of shot location, Spoelstra sees a pair of keys with the potential to unlock the Miami Heat’s offense. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024

There was something almost papal about the set-up: Thierry the Benevolent addressing his disciples. —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024

With the help of mystical disciples, Joan hijacks a charity event and takes three hostages: a crumbling movie star, played by Evans; wealthy elite Bracken, played by Vincent Cassel (Black Swan); and a woman named Katie, played by Ambika Mod (One Day). —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "follower of Jesus, one of the apostles, pupil," in part going back to Old English discipul, in part borrowed from Anglo-French disciple, both borrowed from Late Latin discipulus "follower of Christ, apostle" (translation of Greek mathētḗs), going back to Latin, "pupil, learner," of uncertain origin

Note: Traditionally explained as a derivative of discere "to learn," but the second element -pulus is neither a known word nor a suffix. According to an alternative explanation, the base is nominalized from an unattested verb *discipere, putatively, "to grasp, comprehend," from dis- dis- and capere "to take, seize" (cf. disceptāre "to dispute, debate," supposedly a frequentative from this verb); this is semantically questionable, however, and -ulus is any case not an agentive suffix.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

disciple

noun

dis·​ci·​ple dis-ˈī-pəl 

1

: a person who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of another

2

: apostle sense 1a

discipleship

-ˌship 

noun

Etymology

Middle English disciple "one who follows and spreads the teaching of another," from Old English discipul and early French disciple (both, same meaning), from Latin discipulus "follower of Jesus Christ in his lifetime," from earlier discipulus "pupil"