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.

---

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

---

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.)

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of baptism

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

Explanation

In the Christian church, baptism is a rite that symbolizes spiritual purification and rebirth. If you’ve had a baptism, it probably involved being dipped in water or having water sprinkled on you, lots of proud relatives, and hopefully cake afterwards. The word baptism can be traced to the Greek word baptismos, meaning “ceremonial washing.” This cleansing rite typically takes place when you’re a child and is often seen as an initiation into the church. Baptism can be used more broadly to describe other kinds of initiations as well. If you go through a difficult experience on your first day on the job, you could say that was your baptism as a customer service rep.

Example Sentences

Baptism records reveal the couple had four children, two of whom died by 1653, about the time Mr Murril died.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2024

It reproduces a shivering man depicted in a fresco, "Baptism of the Neophytes", by Masaccio.

From Reuters • Apr. 5, 2022

Baptism is the basic rite of initiation into the Christian faith.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2022

The sheet morphs into a robe in a Baptism witnessed by several matrons in Sunday hats, then flaps on a laundry line where the young boys return, trying to pull it down.

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2021

He does have extraordinary technical abilities—remember that hair on the angel in The Baptism of Christ, the painting that caused Verrocchio to abandon painting.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day