ritual

adjective rit·u·al \ ˈri-chə-wəl , -chəl ; ˈrich-wəl \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: ritual in a Sentence

Definition of ritual

1 : of or relating to rites or a ritual : ceremonial

a ritual dance

2 : according to religious law

ritual purity

3 : done in accordance with social custom or normal protocol

ritual handshakes

ritual background checks

—

ritually

adverb

See ritual defined for English-language learners

See ritual defined for kids

Recent Examples of ritual from the Web

After 39 years in business, the ritual roles of diner and restaurateur here have blurred into something more significant.

— jonathan kauffman, SFChronicle.com, "Upon retiring, the story of the couple behind the Tenderloin’s most-loved deli," 28 June 2018
Downstream at the waterfall where the ritual combat took place, see the run-of-the-river hydropower plant, which is like the Gouina Hydroelectric Plant in Mali.

— New York Times, "What’s It Like to Visit Wakanda? You Had Some (Great) Ideas," 3 Apr. 2018
During Palm Sunday Mass, palms are distributed to parishioners who carry them in a ritual procession into church.

— david grunfeld, NOLA.com, "Celebrating Palm Sunday at Mary Queen of Peace in Mandeville," 26 Mar. 2018
The reason for their death remains a mystery, though ritual sacrifice is one possible explanation, researchers say.

— michael price, Science | AAAS, "Rituals performed at this German ‘Stonehenge’ may link mysterious monument to its U.K. counterpart," 28 June 2018
Priest to the left, king to the right, and, between them, only half embodied within the flames of a ritual fire, a clone of the priest proffers a dish of magical, son-producing food.

— lee lawrence, WSJ, "‘Epic Tales From Ancient India’ Review: Stories Told in All Their Splendor," 26 June 2018
The world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater, of Westport, Connecticut, was essentially a cult, with its own bible, ritual mind control, and feats of strength.

— gary shteyngart, The New Yorker, "The Luck of Kokura," 18 June 2018
After all, time and time again Moshe not only teaches ritual law, but also how the Jewish people must function as a people, a nation with laws, government and showing concern for all.

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "The making of a successful rabbi," 11 June 2018
For Valley Youth Theatre's beloved director, ritual shearing to play Daddy Warbucks has become a 7-year tradition.

— kerry lengel, azcentral, "Ritual sacrifice: Bobb Cooper shaves his head for 'Annie,' Valley Youth Theatre," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ritual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ritual

Latin ritualis, from ritus rite

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

ritual

noun

Definition of ritual

1 : the established form for a ceremony; specifically : the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony

2 a : ritual observance; specifically : a system of rites

b : a ceremonial act or action

c : an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner

See ritual defined for English-language learners

Examples of ritual in a Sentence

The priest will perform the ritual.
He was buried simply, without ceremony or ritual.
the daily ritual of preparing breakfast
His day-to-day life is based on ritual.

Recent Examples of ritual from the Web

The apt word here is pampering, yes, but there’s an undercurrent of efficiency—all the beautifying rituals in a single place for maximum unwind.

— laura regensdorf, Vogue, "Meet the NYC Detox Shop Where Cryotherapy and CBD-Infused Smoothies Are on the Menu," 11 July 2018
The mystical rituals of earlier times evolved into more lighthearted fun and games.

— marissa gold, Country Living, "Everything You Need to Know About the History of Halloween and Why We Celebrate It," 6 July 2018
This remains true — the show has a 2017 video of a ritual in progress — which may be one reason such esoteric objects have been understudied.

— New York Times, "The Art of Staying Cool: 10 Can’t-Miss Summer Shows in New York," 4 July 2018
The difference here is that those powerful magic spells can really alter the usual courtship rituals.

— mike giuliano, Howard County Times, "A Midsummer Night in Ellicott City," 28 June 2018
Without it, Ed’s family and friends were in limbo, unable to commence the public rituals that attend death, unable to get on with the private phase of their grief.

— earl swift, Outside Online, "The Incredible True Story of the Henrietta C.," 20 June 2018
As Casey has dived into his new job, having already met all of the team’s players, his wife and two children have gone through the rituals of every uprooted NBA family.

— orion sang, Detroit Free Press, "Pistons owner Tom Gores won over Dwane Casey's wife with phone call," 20 June 2018
Their son Robert, a Florida A&M drum major, was killed in a hazing ritual in 2011 in Orlando.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Andrea Constand, Steve Bannon, Bill Maher: This weekend," 1 June 2018
Other substances less well known today may have played a role in healing or ecstatic rituals in the ancient Near East.

— andrew lawler, Science | AAAS, "Did ancient Mesopotamians get high? Near Eastern rituals may have included opium, cannabis," 19 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of ritual

1620

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

ritual Synonyms

Synonyms

custom, fashion, habit, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), second nature, trick, way, wont;

Related Words

addiction;

disposition;

bent, inclination, proclivity, set, tendency, tenor, turn;

bag, convention, form, mode, style;

usage, use;

deportment, manners, mores;

drill, groove, jog trot, regime (also régime), regimen, rote, routine, rut;

affectation, airs, pose;

attribute, characteristic, mark, trait;

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra

RITUAL Defined for English Language Learners

ritual

adjective

Definition of ritual for English Language Learners

: done as part of a ceremony or ritual
: always done in a particular situation and in the same way each time

ritual

noun

Definition of ritual for English Language Learners

: a formal ceremony or series of acts that is always performed in the same way
: an act or series of acts done in a particular situation and in the same way each time