baptize

verb bap·tize \ bap-ˈtīz , ˈbap-ˌ , especially Southern bab- or ˈbab- \

variants: or less commonly baptise

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of baptize

baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising

transitive verb

1 religion : to administer baptism (see baptism 1) to

baptize a child in the Episcopal Church

was baptized a Catholic as an infant

2 a : to purify or cleanse spiritually especially by a purging (see ¹purge 1) experience or ordeal

… baptized with pain and rapture, tears and fire …
—Sidney Lanier

b : initiate

Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow …
—New York Times

3 : to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen

Theybaptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.

intransitive verb

: to administer baptism

—

baptizer

noun

See baptize defined for English-language learners

See baptize defined for kids

Examples of baptize in a Sentence

The priest baptized the baby.
She was baptized at the age of 20.

Recent Examples of baptize from the Web

First Congregational Church, where Thornton was baptized and his father was a church deacon.

— jim higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Repertory Theater plans an 'Our Town' for our town," 4 Apr. 2018
She was taken to a river, baptized, and led to a private location.

— sarah betancourt, Longreads, "The Religion No One Talks About: My Search For Answers in an Old Caribbean Faith," 30 Mar. 2018
The video for Dunne’s single chronicles the kismet-like relationship between her parents, Marcy and Marty Dunne, who were born five days apart, baptized at the same church and on the same day and grew up living blocks apart from one another.

— lynn petrak, chicagotribune.com, "Petrak: La Grange native signed by Atlantic Records films video in her hometown," 29 Mar. 2018
Just last week, she was reportedly baptized in a private ceremony into the Church of England, and she will be confirmed as well before her May 19 wedding to Prince Harry.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle, Future Brit, Sang God Save the Queen Today While at Church With the Queen," 12 Mar. 2018
Advertisement It's been a busy week for Markle who, before Thursday's events, was baptized at St James's Palace in London, making her an official member of the Church of England ahead of her and Prince Harry's May 19 wedding.

— kathryn lindsay, refinery29.com, "Meghan Markle Is Inspiring A New Generation Of English Actresses," 8 Mar. 2018
After The Sunday Times reported that Meghan Markle was to be baptized into the Church of England by Archbishop Canterbury, multiple outlets reported today that the top-secret ceremony has already taken place.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "Meghan Markle Is Reportedly Baptized in a Secret Ceremony," 8 Mar. 2018
Although Markle does not have to be Anglican to marry Prince Harry, her decision to be baptized is seen as a sign of respect for Queen Elizabeth, Harry’s grandmother, and the titular head of the Church of England.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Meghan Markle Was Baptized Ahead of Royal Wedding," 8 Mar. 2018
Meghan Markle was baptized and confirmed into the Church of England this week in a private ceremony at St. James's Palace in London.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Was Secretly Baptized into the Church of England This Week," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'baptize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of baptize

Middle English, from Anglo-French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein to dip, baptize, from baptein to dip, dye; akin to Old Norse kvefja to quench

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

baptize Synonyms

Synonyms

call, christen, denominate, designate, dub, entitle, label, name, nominate, style, term, title;

Related Words

brand, stigmatize, tag;

denote, specify;

miscall, misname, mistitle;

nickname;

surname;

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

BAPTIZE Defined for English Language Learners

baptize

verb

Definition of baptize for English Language Learners

: to perform the ceremony of baptism for (someone)
: to officially make someone a member of a specified Christian church through the ceremony of baptism
: to give (someone) a name through the ceremony of baptism