baptism

1 of 2

noun

bap·​tism ˈbap-ˌti-zəm 

especially Southern ˈbab-

1

a

: a Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community

b

: a non-Christian rite using water for ritual purification

2

: an act, experience, or ordeal by which one is purified, sanctified, initiated, or named

baptismal

bap-ˈtiz-məl 

especially Southern bab-

adjective

baptismally

bap-ˈtiz-mə-lē 

adverb

baptismal

2 of 2

adjective

bap·​tis·​mal (ˈ)bap-¦tiz-məl 

especially Southern(ˈ)bab-

: of or relating to baptism

baptismal certificates

baptismal vows

the first baptismal shock … had worn off

—Evelyn Barkins

baptismally

(ˈ)bap-¦tiz-mə-lē 

especially Southern(ˈ)bab-

adverb

Did you know?

In Christianity, baptism is the sacrament of admission to the church, symbolized by the pouring or sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion in water. The ceremony is usually accompanied by the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the doctrine originated by St. Paul, it signifies the wiping away of past sins and the rebirth of the individual into a new life. Judaism practiced ritual purification by immersion, and the Gospels report that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Baptism was an important ritual in the early church by the first century ce, and infant baptism appeared c. 200 ce. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches practice infant baptism. The Anabaptist reformers insisted on adult baptism after a confession of faith; modern Baptists and the Disciples of Christ also practice adult baptism.

Synonyms of baptism

Noun

• inauguration
• inaugural
• initiation

Examples of baptism in a Sentence

Noun

There were over 100 baptisms at our church last year.

He received the sacrament of baptism as an infant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Most recently in 2012, the Vatican stated that even if the Latter-day Saint baptismal rite refers to the Trinity, the church’s beliefs about the identities of the three are so different from Catholic and mainline Christian beliefs that the rite cannot be regarded as a Christian baptism. —ABC News, 10 June 2026

Perhaps no surprise, then, that the aircraft taking the squad to New Jersey was given a traditional ‘baptism’ before take-off at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeao airport. —Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 4 June 2026

Everything is a baptism by fire, David. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026

Make that a Major League-leading seven shutout losses just 32 games into the Giants’ baptism under manager Tony Vitello. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English baptisme

Adjective

Medieval Latin baptismalis, from Late Latin baptisma + Latin -alis -al

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing baptism

• baptism by fire
• baptism of fire

Kids Definition

baptism

noun

bap·​tism ˈbap-ˌtiz-əm 

1

: the act or ceremony of baptizing

2

: an act or experience that baptizes

a soldier's baptism of fire

baptismal

bap-ˈtiz-məl 

adjective

baptismally

-mə-lē 

adverb