# baptism

/ˈbæptɪzəm/ (US) · /bˈæptɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baptism
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. religious ceremony

noun · CEFR B2

a Christian ceremony where water is used to welcome someone into the church and often to give them a name.

For teachers: the Christian sacrament of admission to the church, typically involving the application of water to the candidate.

- The family gathered at the small village church for the baby's baptism.
- The theological debate centered on whether baptism should be performed on infants or reserved for adult believers who can profess their own faith.

### 3. naming ceremony

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a ceremony or event where something is given a formal name.

For teachers: the act or ceremony of naming an object, such as a ship or a new project.

- The baptism of the new ocean liner involved breaking a bottle of champagne against its side.
- The official baptism of the research facility was attended by several high-ranking government ministers and local dignitaries.

## Examples

- The baby had her baptism on Sunday morning.
- Many families choose to have the baptism ceremony shortly after the child is born.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.