What does baptize mean?
To baptize is to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism, ritually admitting a person into the church through the symbolic use of water — whether by full immersion, as in many evangelical and Orthodox traditions, or by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, as commonly practiced with infants in Catholic, Anglican, and other denominations. The word carries deep religious gravity, marking spiritual rebirth, cleansing, and formal initiation into a community of faith. Beyond its liturgical core sense, baptize also appears in a secular naming sense, meaning to give a name to a person or even a ship at its launch ceremony, and figuratively in expressions like 'baptized by fire,' describing a harsh initiation into a difficult new experience. Derived ultimately from the Greek 'baptizein,' meaning to dip or immerse, the verb is transitive and typically appears in passive constructions such as 'she was baptized last Sunday.' Its British spelling is usually 'baptise.'
verbTo admit a person into a Christian church by the ritual use of water, whether by immersion or by sprinkling or pouring on the head. More generally, to give someone or something a name, especially in a ceremonial way.
- To administer the Christian rite of baptism to someone using water.
- To give a name to a person or thing, especially in a formal or ceremonial context.
- (Figurative) To initiate someone into an experience, often a difficult one.
"The priest baptized the infant before a small gathering of family and friends."
"The missionary traveled for weeks to reach the village, where he baptized more than a hundred new converts."
"After surviving his first week in the newsroom, everyone joked that he had finally been baptized by fire."
The word comes straight from ancient Greece, where 'baptizein' simply meant 'to dip' — it was used for dyeing cloth long before it ever touched a christening font.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of baptize
The word derives from Greek 'baptizein' (βαπτίζειν), meaning 'to dip or immerse,' itself related to 'baptos,' meaning dipped or dyed. It passed into Latin as 'baptizare' and entered English via Old French during the medieval period, becoming firmly attached to the Christian rite of baptism. Cognate forms such as 'baptism' and 'baptistery' share the same Greek root, and the term's original association with dipping — even dyeing cloth — explains why immersion remained central to many baptismal traditions.
Related word forms
How baptize is actually used
Primarily a religious term with solemn, ceremonial connotations. In British English 'baptise' is the usual spelling; American English favors 'baptize'. The figurative sense ('baptized by fire') is informal and often humorous. Some Christian traditions reserve the term for immersion, while others accept sprinkling or pouring.