Donatist

D2O1N1A1T1I1S1T1
UK/ˈdəʊnətɪst/UK/ˈdɒnətɪst/

noun

One of a group of Christians in fourth-century North Africa who broke away as a group after opposing the appointment of Caecilianus as Bishop of Carthage, and who disputed the validity of baptisms performed by others.

OriginMedieval Latin Dōnātista →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

nounDonatist (plural Donatists)

plural Donatists

  1. historicalChristianityOne of a group of Christians in fourth-century North Africa who broke away as a group after opposing the appointment of Caecilianus as Bishop of Carthage, and who disputed the validity of baptisms performed by others.

    Faced with petitions from the Donatists, in 311 Constantine made a decision of great significance for the future.

    2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 211

Origin

  1. Medieval LatinDōnātista
  2. EnglishDonatist

From Medieval Latin Dōnātista, from Dōnātus, one of their leaders.

More words from Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Donatist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Donatist

MLA

“Donatist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Donatist. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Donatist,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Donatist.

Source: Donatist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.