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

During their opener against California Baptist, the Bruins led by just 10 at the half.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 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

According to Belafonte, they arranged a meeting in the basement of Abyssinian Baptist Church, where King told him he was almost out of money to fund the Montgomery Bus Boycott and asked for help.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

It did occur to me to find it strange for a Baptist minister to send me to a Catholic school.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool