Affusion (
la. affusio) is a method of
baptism where water is poured on the head of the person being baptized. The word "affusion" comes from the Latin
affusio, meaning "to pour on". Affusion is one of four methods of baptism used by Christians, which also include total
submersion baptism, partial
immersion baptism, and
aspersion or sprinkling. Christian denominations that baptize by affusion do not deny the legitimacy of baptizing by submersion or immersion; rather, they consider that affusion is a sufficient, if not preferable, method of baptism.