baptism for the dead

noun

A rite in which a living person undergoes baptism on behalf of a deceased person, with the intended purpose of extending to that deceased person the spiritual benefits associated with baptism.

Similar
baptism by proxyproxy baptismvicarious baptism
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounbaptism for the dead (plural baptisms for the dead)

plural baptisms for the dead

  1. ChristianityA rite in which a living person undergoes baptism on behalf of a deceased person, with the intended purpose of extending to that deceased person the spiritual benefits associated with baptism.

    Synonyms: baptism by proxy, proxy baptism, vicarious baptism

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA rite in which a living person undergoes baptism on behalf of a deceased person, with the intended purpose of extending to that deceased person the spiritual benefits associated with baptism.

Similar
baptism by proxyproxy baptismvicarious baptism
Also see
baptism by proxyproxy baptismvicarious baptism
Cite this entry
APA

baptism for the dead. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20for%20the%20dead

MLA

“baptism for the dead.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20for%20the%20dead. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “baptism for the dead,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20for%20the%20dead.

Source: baptism for the dead on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.