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.

---

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

---

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

Nonetheless, he continued preaching and planted several Baptist congregations over the next nine years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The experiments relied on specially engineered mice created by Professor Thomas Knöpfel at Hong Kong Baptist University.

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2026

Footage showed a chaotic scene unfolding inside the church, which belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention, as protesters and members of the congregation shout at each other.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

In December, a student union from Hong Kong Baptist University was ordered to suspend after a condolences message was posted on campus wall following a fire that killed 168 people.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

We passed by Friendship Baptist without Uncle Darnell making mention of the Arabian Knight or his sword, plastered into the yellow brick face of the church.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia