christen

verb

chris·​ten ˈkri-sᵊn 

christened; christening ˈkri-sə-niŋ 

ˈkris-niŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: baptize sense 1

was christened when he was three months old

b

: to name at baptism

They christened the baby Anne.

2

: to name or dedicate (something, such as a ship) by a ceremony that often involves breaking a bottle of champagne

3

: name sense 1

The newspaper christened her as the reigning Queen of Tennis.

4

: to use for the first time

They christened the new ballpark with a win.

Synonyms

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

Examples of christen in a Sentence

He was christened when he was three months old.

They christened the baby Anna.

The politician was chosen to christen a new ship.

The newspaper has christened her as the reigning Queen of Tennis.

They christened the new ball park with a win.

Recent Examples on the Web

Douglas christened his company, Douglas Aircraft and built his first planes under contract with the U.S. Navy. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Photo : Vosper Thornycroft ‘M5,’ 257 Feet, 2004 Vosper Thornycroft British yacht builder Vosper Thornycroft delivered M5 (ex-Mirabella V) in 2004 to Joe Vittoria, an American yachtsman who owned a series of sailing superyachts all christened Mirabella. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2024

The ship will be christened in New York City on Nov. 19 and begins passenger service on its inaugural cruise Dec. 21. —Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2024

The firstborn son in each family is christened Diego, and all members take Diego as a middle name. —Teresa Grøtan (tr. Caroline Waight), The Dial, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cristnen, from Old English cristnian, from cristen Christian, from Latin christianus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

christen

verb

chris·​ten ˈkris-ᵊn 

christened; christening ˈkris-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: baptize sense 1

2

a

: to name at baptism

christened the baby Robin

b

: to name or dedicate in a ceremony like that of baptism

christen a ship