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
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Recent Examples of ritual from the Web
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My strategy is to do one entry early in the trip, and make the ritual part of the daily routine.
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Ritual does not arrive without change in the Envy on the Coast lineup.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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
ritual
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
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
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Whatever your favorite beauty or self-care ritual is, find strength in that today.
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Part of our birthday ritual is to reminisce about our friendship over the years.
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At a time when these expectations about gender are eroding, this type of ritual is working against that progress.
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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.
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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.
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And didn't all Christians agree that religious art, symbols and rituals were relics of a less desirable past?
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Laveau predicted the future, conducted private rituals behind her French Quarter cottage, performed exorcisms and offered sacrifices to spirits.
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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.
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.
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
playDefinition of ritual for English Language Learners
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: done as part of a ceremony or ritual
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: always done in a particular situation and in the same way each time
ritual
Definition of ritual for English Language Learners
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: a formal ceremony or series of acts that is always performed in the same way
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: an act or series of acts done in a particular situation and in the same way each time
RITUAL Defined for Kids
ritual
playDefinition of ritual for Students
: a ceremony or series of acts that is always performed the same way
Medical Dictionary
ritual
playMedical Definition of ritual
: any act or practice regularly repeated in a set precise manner for relief of anxiety obsessive-compulsive rituals
Learn More about ritual
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ritual Spanish Central: Translation of ritual Nglish: Translation of ritual for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ritual for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ritual
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