Origin: Greek suffix -ism
Baptism has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
"most churches baptize infants but some insist on adult baptism"
A Christian sacrament, by which one is received into a church and sometimes given a name, generally involving the candidate to be anointed with or submerged in water.
"The new member underwent baptism by being fully submerged in water as they were welcomed into the church and given their christening name."
In plain English: Baptism is a religious ceremony where someone gets baptized with water to show they have joined their faith.
"The new parents planned their baby's baptism for next Sunday morning."
Usage: Baptism refers specifically to the Christian ritual of initiation that often includes naming and water immersion. Use this term for religious ceremonies rather than general acts of cleansing or purification in other contexts.
The word "baptism" entered Middle English via French and Latin as a loanword for the Ancient Greek term meaning "dipping." It replaced the original Old English phrase ful-wiht to describe the religious ritual of immersion in water.