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

The former President of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland was at Coleraine Magistrates' Court, where the judgement was delivered, on Thursday.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

The only thing that vaguely approached an act of lèse-majesté against the head of the House of Windsor was the attendance of Mark Collins, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Yorktown, Texas.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

Roll back the clock 40 years, when his father, David Jeremiah, was the senior pastor at a Baptist church in El Cajon.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

At the First Baptist Church, he said, the Eastlands were trying to be respectful as people grieved.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

That afternoon, I rode my bike over to the Baptist church.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine