ritual

play

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

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

My strategy is to do one entry early in the trip, and make the ritual part of the daily routine.

— erin mckittrick, Alaska Dispatch News, "How to document your Alaska adventure," 11 July 2017
Ritual does not arrive without change in the Envy on the Coast lineup.

— chris payne, Billboard, "Long Island Rockers Envy on the Coast Premiere Long-Awaited 'Ritual' EP: Listen Here," 29 June 2017
This would constitute two bites at the apple since the Cubs moved heaven and earth to do the ritual post-championship visit during the waning days of the Obama administration.

— vanityfair.com, "The White House’s Media Blood Feud Hits a New Low," 28 June 2017
But in a sad twist of irony, the historical resilience of cats to survive ritual killings, long journeys on Viking ships and other forms of abuse — they are thrown from windows at double the rate of dogs — has been a detriment to their protection.

— michael s. rosenwald, Washington Post, "The disturbing history of cat abuse: Public hangings, pipe beatings and ‘The Great Cat Massacre’," 23 June 2017
Yet this is not the vicious lynching of a Trump-surrogate that the right-wing press are keen to portray, nor a ritual expression of New York Democrats' bloodlust.

— kate maltby, CNN, "Trump as Julius Caesar -- What could go wrong?," 12 June 2017
Developer Verzasca Group will donate a Mikvah — a bath used by Jewish men and women for ritual immersion — to the Chabad Lubavitch of Sunny Isles Beach as part of their 61-residence luxury condo tower Aurora at 17550 Collins Ave.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "How schools, trains and concerts are building up Miami’s neighborhoods," 4 June 2017
Beit Hanina was home to a few farming families as early as Canaanite times; in Pisgat Ze’ev, excavations have uncovered ritual baths from the Second Temple period.

— geraldine brooks, The New Yorker, "The Dovekeeper and the Children’s Intifada," 27 May 2017
A Norwegian political party has voted to support a ban on ritual circumcision of boys, a move that has been criticized as an attack on religious minorities in the country.

— tara john, Time, "Norway's Anti-Immigration Party Wants to Ban Ritual Circumcision," 8 May 2017

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

See Words from the same year

ritual

noun rit·u·al

Definition of ritual

1 : the established form for a ceremony; specifically : the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony
2a : ritual observance; specifically : a system of ritesb : a ceremonial act or actionc : 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

Whatever your favorite beauty or self-care ritual is, find strength in that today.

— jodie layne, Allure, "What This Week's Horoscope Means for You," 17 July 2017
Part of our birthday ritual is to reminisce about our friendship over the years.

— debbie bosak, Post-Tribune, "Lifelong friendships take joyous effort," 12 July 2017
At a time when these expectations about gender are eroding, this type of ritual is working against that progress.

— diane stopyra, Marie Claire, "Dear Parents-to-Be: Stop Celebrating Your Baby's Gender," 5 July 2017
Both rituals grew out of the decision by she and her husband Tony Engleman made nearly a year ago to install 11 solar panels on the south-facing side of their roof.

— bill roberts, idahostatesman, "How you can make sunshine run your appliances, and save money on your power bill, too," 5 July 2017
The segregation of the wall—an important religious symbol for Jews around the world—has become the focal point in the battle over rituals between Orthodox and liberal Jewish communities.

— valentina zarya, Fortune, "The World’s Most Powerful Women: June 27," 27 June 2017
And didn't all Christians agree that religious art, symbols and rituals were relics of a less desirable past?

— jonathan m. pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Conversions gradually transforming Orthodox Christianity," 24 June 2017
Laveau predicted the future, conducted private rituals behind her French Quarter cottage, performed exorcisms and offered sacrifices to spirits.

— NOLA.com, "The enduring spell of New Orleans Voodoo queen Marie Laveau," 23 June 2017
To protect the sanctity of the most sacred coronation ritual, however, Elizabeth is shielded from the cameras by a golden canopy as she is anointed queen.

— julie miller, HWD, "How Netflix’s The Crown Re-created Elizabeth II’s Coronation in Epic Detail," 22 June 2017

First Known Use of ritual

1620

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

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

RITUAL Defined for English Language Learners

ritual

play

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