'baptist' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'baptistēs' meaning 'one who baptizes', via Late Latin 'baptista'.

'baptist' changed from Late Latin 'baptista' into Middle English forms (from ecclesiastical use) and eventually became the modern English word 'baptist'.

Initially, it meant 'one who baptizes' (a baptizer); over time it also came to mean 'a member of the Baptist denomination' or the collective group 'the Baptists'.