rite

noun

ˈrīt 

1

a

: a prescribed form or manner governing the words or actions for a ceremony

b

: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches

2

: a ceremonial act or action

initiation rites

3

: a division of the Christian church using a distinctive liturgy

Synonyms of rite

• ritual
• ceremony

Examples of rite in a Sentence

Incense is often burned in their religious rites.

the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation

Recent Examples on the Web

Over time, the rite has evolved into soft marketing for America’s multibillion dollar poultry industry. —Luke Fountain, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025

Spectropolis is never glib about the transparent profit motive sustaining such rites. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

The bishops further authorized a new edition of the Roman Pontifical for pontifical Masses, expected to be completed by 2027, with Vatican approval pending for some rites, according to the Catholic News Agency. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025

Liminal events include Halloween and honeymoons and other rites that mark passages in life. —Chuck Palahniuk, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin ritus; akin to Greek arithmos number — more at arithmetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing rite

• initiation rite
• rite of passage
• Scottish rite
• York rite

Rhymes for rite

• bight
• bite
• blight
• byte
• cite
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• height
• hight

Kids Definition

rite

noun

ˈrīt 

1

a

: a fixed form for a ceremony

b

: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches

2

: a ceremonial act or action