“叛教者”常见的英文表达是 apostate，它既可以作名词，表示背弃信仰、教派或原则的人；也可作形容词，意为“变节的；背教的”。
例如：
The apostate was excommunicated from the church.（这个叛教者被逐出了教会 。）
He is regarded as an apostate by his former comrades.（他被以前的战友视为叛教者。）