rite of passage

noun

plural rites of passage
: a ritual, event, or experience that marks or constitutes a major milestone or change in a person's life
Rites of passage celebrate the social movement of individuals into and out of groups or into or out of statuses of critical importance to the individual and to the community. Reproduction, the achievement of manhood and womanhood, marriage, and death are the principal worldwide occasions for rites of passage.Marvin Harris
For them the two years of missionary work, with the rigorous bootcamp-style training preceding it, is a rite of passage between graduation and marriage, adolescence and adult life.Malise Ruthven
Today, when each year American society becomes more complex, a veritable tapestry of nationalities, the strongest of our common threads may well be the rites of passage all immigrants face.Harold Holzer
The author, grandson of the poet Allen Tate, dropped out of Sewanee University after going through the by-now familiar 1960's rite of passage of drugs, sex, and antiwar demonstrations …Caroline Seebohm
compare initiation rite

Examples of rite of passage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Every five years, America’s top nutrition experts jockey to be part of a rite of passage in the field. Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025 The short video, which was shared to the platform on April 18, captured the dachshund's heart-wrenching response to being denied her beloved treat—one that many dogs have come to expect as a rite of passage in the passenger seat. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 For decades, the racetrack at Rockingham served as a rite of passage in the sport of racing. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025 Many in the village are excited for the apprehensive Spike, as this is a rite of passage, but Jamie is reminded by a woman at the gate on their way out that 14 or 15 is the typical age for this experience. Mark Meszoros, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rite of passage

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rite of passage was in 1897

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Cite this Entry

“Rite of passage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite%20of%20passage. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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