Meanings
plural baptisms of fire · alternative baptism by fire · alternative fire baptism
- ChristianityThe gift of the Holy Spirit.
- ChristianityTribulation endured as spiritual discipline.
And the Father's counselor suggested that he invite you along to help: sort of a re–baptism of fire, so to speak.
2013, “Mammy?”, in Mrs. Brown's Boys, season 3, episode 5, spoken by Father Damien (Conor Moloney) - ChristianityMartyrdom by immolation.
- figurativelygovernmentThe first experience of a severe ordeal, especially a first experience of military combat
Having to deal with a bomb scare on his first day was a real baptism of fire for John.
1 more example
She sat down for four exclusive interviews over the course of several weeks to reflect on her first 100 days in the job. It has been a baptism of fire by many accounts, including hers.
2023 September 30, Hannah Murphy, “The wildest job in Silicon Valley”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 17
Origin
Derived from English translations of the New Testament, namely the Gospels of Matthew (3:11) and of Luke (3:16); from Ancient Greek through Latin; presumably from Aramaic.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan baptisme de foc
- baptisme de focthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Chinese Cantonese 炮火嘅洗禮 /炮火嘅洗礼
- 炮火嘅洗禮 /炮火嘅洗礼 (paau³ fo² ge³ sai² lai⁵)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Chinese Mandarin 炮火的洗禮 /炮火的洗礼
- 炮火的洗禮 /炮火的洗礼 (pàohuǒ de xǐlǐ)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Czech křest ohněm
- křest ohněmthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Danish ilddåb
- ilddåbthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Finnish tulikaste
- tulikastethe first experience of a severe ordeal
French baptême du feu
- baptême du feuthe first experience of a severe ordeal
German Feuertaufe
- Feuertaufethe first experience of a severe ordeal
Greek βάπτισμα του πυρός
- βάπτισμα του πυρός (váptisma tou pyrós)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Hindi अग्नि से बपतिस्मा
- अग्नि से बपतिस्मा (agni se baptismā)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Hungarian tűzkeresztség
- tűzkeresztségthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Italian battesimo del fuoco
- battesimo del fuocothe first experience of a severe ordeal
Japanese 火の洗礼
- 火の洗礼 (hi no senrei)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Korean 포화의 세례
- 포화의 세례 (pohwaui serye)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Norwegian ilddåp
- ilddåpthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Polish chrzest bojowy
- chrzest bojowythe first experience of a severe ordeal
Portuguese batismo de fogo
- batismo de fogothe first experience of a severe ordeal
Romanian botez cu foc
- botez cu focthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Russian боево́е креще́ние
- боево́е креще́ние (bojevóje kreščénije)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Spanish bautismo de fuego, bautismo pírico
- bautismo de fuegothe first experience of a severe ordeal
- bautismo píricothe first experience of a severe ordeal
- bautismo ígneothe first experience of a severe ordeal
- bautismo vulcaniothe first experience of a severe ordeal
Swedish elddop
- elddopthe first experience of a severe ordeal
Ukrainian бойове́ хре́щення
- бойове́ хре́щення (bojové xréščennja)the first experience of a severe ordeal
Cite this entry
baptism of fire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20of%20fire
“baptism of fire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20of%20fire. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “baptism of fire,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/baptism%20of%20fire.
Source: baptism of fire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.