christening
Americannoun
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the ceremony of baptism, especially as accompanied by the giving of a name to a child.
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a public ceremony in which a new ship is formally named and launched.
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an act or instance of naming or dedicating something new.
noun
Etymology
Origin of christening
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at christen, -ing 1
Vocabulary lists containing christening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They enact for their confused rescuer the story of the forgotten fairy at the christening, the curse and the spindle—and then go back to sleep.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Porteous has received royal commissions in the past from Prince William and Catherine, including for behind the scenes moments from Louis' christening.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Of course, race has played an equally important role in Davis’ work as gender, if christening herself after the activist Angela Davis when she was a teenager wasn’t enough of a clue.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
Bitcoin had risen nine out of the previous 11 Octobers before this year, according to Dow Jones Market Data, leading to some bulls christening the month “Uptober.”
From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025
It was a small baby, dressed in white christening clothes with ruffles and ribbons and lace.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
