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Glite Dictionary
rechristening

rechristening

7.0
An event where someone gives a new name to a person or thing in a religious ceremony
  • noun
  • /ˌriːˈkrɪs.tən.ɪŋ/
  • Formal
translation icon : renombramiento
  • The old ship was officially marked for rechristening to reflect its new mission in the naval fleet.

Examples

  • The church held a special event for the rechristening of the newly refurbished statue, signifying its renewed purpose.

  • On Tverskaya Street, Moscow's main drag (the old name from czarist days, now reclaimed and replacing the Soviet rechristening as Gorky Street), an old lady sells eggs, one by one.

    Academic text (1992)

  • From 1985 to 1987, grafite's rechristening as Art continued; the media increasingly referred to appropriated urban wall space as "artistic space."

    Academic text (1995)

  • During the rechristening ceremony, the child was given a new name that honored their family heritage.

Synonyms

rebrand
vsrechristening
1 4.4

A change to a company or product's name and look to make it seem new

is mainly for formal or religious naming ceremonies rather than corporate identity changes
redesignation
vsrechristening
  • Formal
6.7

An official change of name or status for something

is often a ceremonial or religious act rather than an administrative renaming
rebaptism
vsrechristening
  • Literature
8.4

Giving a person or group a new identity to show a fresh start

is a formal, often religious ceremony that gives an official new name

Antonyms

retention
23 4.2

Keeping something so you still have it

How Official

baptism
68 4.7
rechristening
  • Formal
7.0
to nickname
  • Informal
49 2.0

Surface Forms

rechristening singular
rechristenings plural

Morphology

rechristening = rechristen (transparent) = re + christen + ing

This is a standard event noun or gerund formation from the verb 'rechristen' with '-ing'.

Etymology

The word rechristening comes from the prefix re- meaning 'again' and christen meaning 'to give a Christian name', which connects to Christ. So a rechristening is literally giving a name 'again', often in a special ceremony to mark a new start.