baptism
noun
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In Christianity, baptism is the sacrament of admission to the church, symbolized by the pouring or sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion in water. The ceremony is usually accompanied by the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the doctrine originated by St. Paul, it signifies the wiping away of past sins and the rebirth of the individual into a new life. Judaism practiced ritual purification by immersion, and the Gospels report that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Baptism was an important ritual in the early church by the first century ce, and infant baptism appeared c. 200 ce. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches practice infant baptism. The Anabaptist reformers insisted on adult baptism after a confession of faith; modern Baptists and the Disciples of Christ also practice adult baptism.
Examples of baptism in a Sentence
Tanya Talaga
july 24, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025
More promising are Southern Baptists’ baptism numbers — a key spiritual vital sign.
—Peter Smith, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
The congregation of about 20 people frantically waved hand fans and watched as Jones performed the baptism.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025
Initially, they were paid for their work by the crown, though Brinkman suggests that over time many of them instead came to depend on fees, such as a charge paid by parishioners for providing interpretation during a confession or baptism.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 12 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Baptism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptism. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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baptism
noun
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