Phrase guide

baptism of fire

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The gift of the Holy Spirit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Tribulation endured as spiritual discipline.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Martyrdom by immolation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The first experience of a severe ordeal, especially a first experience of military combat

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Topics: government, military, politics, war

Examples

  • Having to deal with a bomb scare on his first day was a real baptism of fire for John.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: баяво́е хрышчэ́нне (bajavóje xryščénnje) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Catalan: baptisme de foc — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Chinese Cantonese: 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 (pàohuǒ de xǐlǐ) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Czech: křest ohněm — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Danish: ilddåb — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Finnish: tulikaste — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • French: baptême du feu — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • German: Feuertaufe — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Greek: βάπτισμα του πυρός (váptisma tou pyrós) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Hindi: अग्नि से बपतिस्मा (agni se baptismā) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Hungarian: tűzkeresztség — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Italian: battesimo del fuoco — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Japanese: 火の洗礼 (hi no senrei) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Korean: 포화의 세례 (pohwaui serye) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Macedonian: огнено крштевање (ogneno krštevanje) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Norwegian: ilddåp — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Portuguese: batismo de fogo — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Romanian: botez cu foc — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Russian: боево́е креще́ние (bojevóje kreščénije) — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Spanish: bautismo de fuego — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Spanish: bautismo pírico — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Spanish: bautismo ígneo — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Spanish: bautismo vulcanio — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Swedish: elddop — the first experience of a severe ordeal
  • Ukrainian: бойове́ хре́щення (bojové xréščennja) — the first experience of a severe ordeal