baptism

American  

[bap-tiz-uhm] / ˈbæp tɪz əm /

noun

1. Ecclesiastical. a ceremonial immersion in water, or application of water, as an initiatory rite or sacrament of the Christian church.

2. any similar ceremony or action of initiation, dedication, etc.

   Synonyms:

   introduction, admittance, induction

3. a trying or purifying experience or initiation.

4. Christian Science. purification of thought and character.

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baptism British  

/ ˈbæpˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. a Christian religious rite consisting of immersion in or sprinkling with water as a sign that the subject is cleansed from sin and constituted as a member of the Church

2. the act of baptizing or of undergoing baptism

3. any similar experience of initiation, regeneration, or dedication

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baptism Cultural  

1. The ceremony of initiation into Christianity; in most Christian churches, it is considered a sacrament. Persons baptized either have water poured on them or are immersed in water; some groups of Christians (see also Christian) insist on immersion. The effect of baptism, in Christian belief, is to cleanse persons of their sins, so that they are born into a new life with Jesus. Most churches baptize members when they are infants, but some groups, like the Baptists, insist on adult baptism. Jesus himself was baptized. (See John the Baptist.)

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Other Word Forms

• baptismal adjective
• baptismally adverb
• postbaptismal adjective
• pseudobaptismal adjective
• rebaptism noun

Etymology

Origin of baptism

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Late Latin baptisma, from Greek bapt(ízein) “to immerse” ( baptize ) + -isma -ism; replacing Middle English bapteme, from Old French, from Late Latin, as above

Example Sentences

But a few months after his baptism, headlines appeared about a "quiet revival" of Christian belief among young people, which made him feel less alone.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Michael Carrick looked to have been handed a baptism of fire with Manchester City and Arsenal dished up in the first two games of his reign.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

Doctors like Mel King, whose neurodivergence manifests as open, radical caring and diagnostic precision, or Whitaker, who was revealed to be unhoused himself at the end of his first season baptism by disaster.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2026

In another part of town, a store owner who sells quinceañera and baptism dresses said her sales have dropped by 60% every month since August, and clients have postponed shopping.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

The boxes weren’t labeled, but eventually he found their report cards and Bri’s baptism certificate.

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer