baptism
noun
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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.
Examples of baptism in a Sentence
Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Brown posted a video of his baptism to his TikTok account.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
United have a relatively kind baptism to their European campaign on Wednesday, with a home match against Norwegian side Valerenga, who have only been in the competition once before and finished bottom of their group.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The joint baptism took place at Alive Church in Orlando.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Baptism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptism. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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baptism
noun
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