baptize

/ˈbæptaɪz/

//ˈbæptaɪz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"baptize" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“baptize” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #42,541. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#42,541
frequency rank, English
4,121
“B” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling or pouring water over someone or immersing them in water.

Corpus desk

Index EN-baptize · baptize · English

baptize · rank #42,541 · 10 variants · 4 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #42,541
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 4 pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,121
  • PHOTO-FINISH batgirl

Nearest frequency peer: batgirl (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “baptize”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “baptize” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

baptize vs baptized
88% similar
baptize vs Baptist
57% similar
baptize vs baptism
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for baptize
PropertyValue
Headwordbaptize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈbæptaɪz/
Letters7
Frequency rank#42,541
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “baptize”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).baptizelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “batgirl” (#42,542), “bade” (#42,539), “bathrobe” (#42,543). Among 4,121 “B” headwords, “baptize” is #42,541. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around baptize (IPA /ˈbæptaɪz/), averb. Corpus frequency is #42,541 among 4,121 “B” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for baptize, with forms such as "abptize", "bapitze", and "bapptize". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "baptized", "Baptist", "baptism", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English baptisen, baptizen, from Old French baptiser, batisier, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin baptizāre, from Ancient Greek βαπτίζω (baptízō, “to immerse, plunge, baptize”). The correct English form is baptize, spelled B-A-P-T-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling or pouring water over someone or immersing them in water.
  2. 2
    To Christianize.
  3. 3
    To dedicate or christen.
  4. 4
    Of rum, brandy, or any other spirits, to dilute with water.
  5. 5
    To ensure proper burning of a joint by moistening the exterior with saliva.
  6. 6
    To extinguish the life of.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how baptize appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. I vvas baptized in thy Cordiall vvater, againſt Original ſinne, and I haue drunke of thy Cordiall Blood, for my recouerie, from actuall, and habituall ſinne, in the other Sacrament.
  2. Ample evidence for this transfer of divine imagery can be found in early Christian times, when the Mother of God took over the titles, shrines, iconography and power of the great mother goddess of the Mediterranean world. This "baptizing" of pagan imagery was a successful missionary strategy that allowed Christianity to attract peoples accustomed to femal…

Etymology

From Middle English baptisen, baptizen, from Old French baptiser, batisier, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin baptizāre, from Ancient Greek βαπτίζω (baptízō, “to immerse, plunge, baptize”).

This word in other languages

bautizar(Español)baptiser(Français)taufen(Deutsch)batizar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • abptize
  • bapitze
  • bapptize
  • baptiez
  • baptizze
  • bapttize
  • baptzie
  • batpize
  • bbaptize
  • bpatize

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of baptize - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

abptize2bapitze2bapptize1baptiez2baptizze1bapttize1baptzie2batpize2
Edit distance from "baptize"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "baptize"?
"baptize" is spelled B-A-P-T-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbæptaɪz/.
What does "baptize" mean?
As a verb, "baptize" means: To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling or pouring water over someone or immersing them in water.
What words are commonly confused with "baptize"?
"baptize" is commonly confused with "baptized", "Baptist", "baptism". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "baptize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "baptize" is /ˈbæptaɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "baptize"?
From Middle English baptisen, baptizen, from Old French baptiser, batisier, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin baptizāre, from Ancient Greek βαπτίζω (baptízō, “to immerse, plunge, baptize”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "baptize", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

batgirl#42,542Atwater#42,532brained#42,558Amadeus#42,518

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

caching10 variantscantina10 variantscesspool10 variantschalky10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list