# Baptist

/ˈbæptəst/ (US) · /bˈæptɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baptist
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. church member

noun · CEFR B2

a person who belongs to a Christian group that practices the baptism of adults rather than babies.

For teachers: a member of a Protestant denomination that maintains baptism should be reserved for believers who can personally profess their faith.

- My neighbor is a Baptist and attends the local church every Sunday morning.
- The local Baptist congregation organized a community outreach program to support families during the winter months.

### 2. relating to the denomination

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the Baptist church or its beliefs.

For teachers: of or relating to the Baptist religious denomination or its specific theological tenets.

- We visited a beautiful Baptist church during our trip to the South.
- The scholar published a detailed history of Baptist traditions in colonial America, focusing on their influence on religious freedom.

### 3. one who baptizes

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who performs the ceremony of baptism.

For teachers: a person who administers the rite of baptism, most famously referring to John the Baptist in a biblical context.

- In the Bible, John is known as the Baptist because he baptized Jesus.
- The icon depicts the saint in his role as the Baptist, standing by the river with a wooden staff.

## Examples

- He is a Baptist and attends church every Sunday.
- The local Baptist congregation organized a community food drive to help families during the winter months.
- While sharing many theological roots with other Protestant groups, the Baptist tradition is distinguished by its emphasis on the autonomy of the local church and the necessity of conscious individual faith.

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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.