christen
Americanverb (used with object)
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to receive into the Christian church by baptism; baptize.
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to give a name to at baptism.
They christened her Mary.
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to name and dedicate.
to christen a ship.
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to make use of for the first time.
verb
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to give a Christian name to in baptism as a sign of incorporation into a Christian Church
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another word for baptize
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to give a name to (anything), esp with some ceremony
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informal to use for the first time
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of christen
before 900; Middle English cristenen, Old English cristnian, derivative of cristen Christian
Explanation
To christen a person is to name them, especially in a church baptism ceremony. Your parents may have christened you after a great-grandparent, giving you the same first name. Even if you were christened "Tom Smith" at birth, your friends might give you a nickname, christening you "Pickles" and referring to you that way for the rest of your life. Objects can be christened too: "I hereby christen this car Scooby Doo the Subaru!" When it happens as part of a religious ceremony, being christened means being officially admitted to a Christian church — and the word's Old English root literally means "make Christian."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To his exacting teen and preteen audience, “the Danish person,” as they disobligingly christen him, looks like the houseguest from hell.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
There is no reason to christen your freshly cleaned kitchen with a sink full of dishes.
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026
These commitments are important, as they give Kennedy something to wad up and christen his wastebasket with when he steps into his new office.
From Slate • Feb. 8, 2025
Harman said no to the political comeback but yes to Feinstein’s other idea, a series of dinners with influential Beltway women that Harman intends to now christen as the “DiFi dinners.”
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2023
“I christen thee Biggs, Biggs, Biggs Canal--” Spender was on his feet, over the fire, and alongside Biggs before anyone moved.
From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
