baptism

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.

“Baptism” is pronounced BAP-tih-zuhm (/ˈbæptɪzəm/ in IPA).

Here is “baptism” used in a sentence: “The baby's baptism took place at the family's local parish.”

The opposite of “baptism” — its antonyms — are de-baptism and debaptism.

“Baptism” is a noun.

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.

“Baptism” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“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.

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.

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.