baptize

verb

bap·​tize ˈbap-ˌtīz 

bap-ˈtīz,

 especially Southern  bab-ˈtīz,

 or  ˈbab-ˌtīz

variants or less commonly baptise

baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising

transitive verb

1

religion : to administer baptism (see baptism sense 1) to

baptize a child in the Episcopal Church

was baptized a Catholic as an infant

2

a

: to purify or cleanse spiritually especially by a purging (see purge entry 1 sense 1) experience or ordeal

… baptized with pain and rapture, tears and fire …

—Sidney Lanier

b

: initiate

Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow …

—New York Times

3

: to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen

They baptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.

intransitive verb

: to administer baptism

baptizer noun

Synonyms

• call
• christen
• clepe [archaic]
• denominate
• designate
• dub
• entitle
• label
• name
• nominate
• style
• term
• title

Examples of baptize in a Sentence

The priest baptized the baby.

She was baptized at the age of 20.

Recent Examples on the Web

The church baptized about 25 people, most of whom were between 12 and 40, in 2024 and has baptized nearly 300 people since its founding, Nay estimated. —Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 18 Feb. 2025

She was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth, both at Zion Lutheran Church, Crosby. —Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

He was baptized into the Catholic Church in and received his first Holy Communion in September 2022. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 20 Jan. 2025

He was baptized as an infant in 1943 at Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson by the Rev. N.B. Hansen, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth in 1957 at Faith Lutheran Church by the Rev. Edward Hansen. —Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein to dip, baptize, from baptein to dip, dye; akin to Old Norse kvefja to quench

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

baptize

verb

bap·​tize bap-ˈtīz 

ˈbap-ˌtīz

baptized; baptizing

1

: to dip in water or sprinkle water on as a part of the ceremony of receiving into the Christian church

2

a

: to make pure in spirit (as by a painful experience)

b

: initiate entry 1 sense 3

3

: to give a name to (as in the ceremony of baptism) : christen

baptizer noun