baptism
2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for baptism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A Christian ceremony of initiation in which a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water, symbolically welcoming them into the church.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
christening
initiation rite
Antonyms
de-baptism
debaptism
How to use baptism
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
baptism by fire
infant baptism
baptism ceremony
Etymology
From Old French bapteme, from Late Latin baptisma, from Greek baptisma ("dipping, immersion"), from baptizein ("to dip in water"). It replaced the native Old English word fulwiht.
Full origin of baptism →Frequently asked questions
What does “baptism” mean?
The word “baptism” means a Christian ceremony of initiation in which a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water, symbolically welcoming them into the church. In plain terms, the Christian ritual of being welcomed into the church with water; also used figuratively for a tough first experience.
How do you pronounce “baptism”?
“Baptism” is pronounced BAP-tih-zuhm (/ˈbæptɪzəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “baptism” in a sentence?
Here is “baptism” used in a sentence: “The baby's baptism took place at the family's local parish.”
What is the opposite of “baptism”?
The opposite of “baptism” — its antonyms — are de-baptism and debaptism.
What part of speech is “baptism”?
“Baptism” is a noun.
Where does the word “baptism” come from?
The word “baptism” comes from Late Latin. From Old French bapteme, from Late Latin baptisma, from Greek baptisma ("dipping, immersion"), from baptizein ("to dip in water"). It replaced the native Old English word fulwiht.
Is “baptism” a common word?
“Baptism” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “baptism” have?
“Baptism” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Christian ceremony of initiation in which a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water, symbolically welcoming them into the church.
What is the difference between baptism and christening?
Baptism is the Christian ceremony of initiation itself, involving sprinkling with or immersion in water to welcome someone into the church. Christening often refers to the same ceremony specifically when performed on an infant, sometimes also including the naming of the child, though the terms overlap significantly in everyday use.
Is baptism always performed by immersion in water?
No, baptism can involve either sprinkling with water or full immersion, depending on the Christian tradition or denomination performing the ceremony. Both methods serve the same symbolic purpose of initiating a person into the church.
