Dunker

1 9.9

A member of a Christian group that baptizes people by putting them fully under water

noun
/ˈdʌŋkər/

Archaic

: dunker

On a trip to Romania, World Vision's Marilee Dunker saw this transformation firsthand.
Dunker Church

Examples

As a Dunker, she participated in the baptism by immersion that is central to her faith.
Marilee Pierce-Dunker is the daughter of World Vision founder Bob Pierce, author of "Man of Vision," World Vision senior advocate, and a keynote speaker for World Vision.

Blog text (31)
Many Dunkers value simplicity in lifestyle, prioritizing community and service over material goods.
The Dunker community regularly gathers for worship and fellowship, emphasizing their beliefs in baptism and community.

Synonyms

Baptist

vsDunker

12 4.0

A Christian who fully puts believers under water to show their faith

is narrower, referring to a specific sect within that broader denomination

Tunker

vsDunker

Archaic

2 9.9

A person in a Christian group who is baptized by being fully put under water

has identical meaning but is an alternative name or variant form

Dunkard

vsDunker

Archaic

9.9

A person who is part of a Christian group that baptizes people by putting them completely under water

has the same sense but is another historical variant name

Dipper

vsDunker

9.9

A Christian group that baptizes by dipping people three times and refuses military service and legal oaths

omits the specific threefold ritual and pacifist stance, focusing on general immersion

Surface Forms

Dunker singular

Dunkers plural

Morphology

Dunker = dunk (semi-transparent) = dunk + er

Derived from 'dunk' (to immerse) plus agentive '-er'; the connection to immersion is clear but the sense as a sect name is specialized.

Etymology

Dunker comes from an old German word tunken, which means 'to dip' or 'to dunk' and is like the English word dunk. It named a group of Christians who baptized people by dipping them fully in water, so the name describes their practice of 'dunking' people in water.