Baptist

American  

[bap-tist] / ˈbæp tɪst /

noun

1. a member of a Christian denomination that baptizes believers by immersion and that is usually Calvinistic in doctrine.

2. (lowercase) a person who baptizes.

3. the Baptist. John the Baptist.

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adjective

1. Also Baptistic of or relating to Baptists or their doctrines or practices.

Baptist British  

/ ˈbæptɪst /

noun

1. a member of any of various Christian sects that affirm the necessity of baptism (usually of adults and by immersion) following a personal profession of the Christian faith

2. See John the Baptist

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adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or characteristic of any Christian sect that affirms the necessity of baptism following a personal profession of the Christian faith

Other Word Forms

• anti-Baptist adjective
• non-Baptist adjective
• pro-Baptist adjective
• pseudo-Baptist adjective

Etymology

Origin of Baptist

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English baptiste, from Old French, from Late Latin baptista, from Greek baptistḗs, equivalent to bapt(ízein) “to baptize ” + -istēs -ist

Example Sentences

In South Africa, Isaiah Shembe's followers say he received orders from God in 1913 to found the Nazareth Baptist Church, and many view him as a messianic figure.

From Barron's

Richard Land, a longtime president of the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention who says he has known Huckabee since the late 1970s, has similar concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Bible verse is displayed on a wall of the Altadena Baptist Church’s temporary meeting space.

From Los Angeles Times

“We went to a Baptist church growing up, so hearing the gospel influence in the album is reminiscent of our usual Sunday experience,” Armah said.

From Los Angeles Times

I can only speculate, but the answer likely lies in the quiet rules that many proud, image-conscious Southern Baptist families carried for generations.

From The Wall Street Journal