ritual

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

|Updated on: 18 Jun 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 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
Our family cheers to the ritual indoctrination that’s taken place: Jack has passed the first test.

— laia garcia, Bon Appetit, "Home Is Where the Manteca Is: A Visit to Piñones in Puerto Rico," 6 June 2018
There are a few reasons for that, not the least of which is being thankful for avoiding the ritual dunking in Lake Erie that has submerged 27 Browns starting quarterbacks since 2000, a list that begins with Doug Pederson.

— bob ford, Philly.com, "Eagles know when to hold 'em, know when to Foles 'em | Bob Ford," 28 May 2018
Many women who are on their periods are not allowed to be in the kitchen or attend ritual practices, according to a 2016 Hindustan Times report on period taboo in India.

— maride espada, Teen Vogue, "Period Taboo Around the World," 28 May 2018
These people served double duty as a hate totem for the events, the most reliable targets for ritual humiliation from the stage.

— charles homans, New York Times, "The Post-Campaign Campaign of Donald Trump," 9 Apr. 2018
Image Meditation and ritual meet the tools of the electronic rave in Aisha Devi’s songs.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "At Moogfest, Electronics Stimulate Ears and Emotions," 21 May 2018
Candlemas marks Mary's ritual purification, 40 days after the birth of Jesus.

— CBS News, "Groundhog Day 2018: Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter," 2 Feb. 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 mating grounds, called leks, are where male sage grouse perform an elaborate ritual that includes making balloon-like sounds with two air sacks on their necks.

— keith ridler, idahostatesman, "Breeding ground 'hubs' help keep sage grouse healthy. In Idaho, 1 sits near CJ Strike," 6 June 2018
Stephens College just held our 2018 commencement - an annual ritual of unbridled optimism and familial joy.

— kansascity, "Jean Paul Bradshaw," 5 June 2018
Iranian wrestling is essentially a Persian version of baseball — Iran’s national pastime, an athletic ritual celebrated as an almost chivalrous mechanism for building character.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "In Iranian art show at LACMA, the past wrestles with the present," 4 June 2018
Brito and his 5-year-old brother were fatally stabbed in their home in February, and their mother is accused of murdering them in a ritual killing.

— johanna seltz, BostonGlobe.com, "Angelo School remembers murdered 8-year-old," 2 June 2018
Why not learn about the movements and leaders re-shaping the world from journalist Amy Goodman or witness a traditional Native American fire ritual?

— marko prelic, Teen Vogue, "Lightning in a Bottle 2018 Festival Style," 1 June 2018
The three-martini lunch may be remembered as an anachronistic ritual during which backslapping company men escaped a swallowing sense of existential pointlessness.

— adam sternbergh, New York Times, "Letter of Recommendation: Drinking at Lunch," 23 May 2018
In an annual ritual, a trio of area Muslim leaders — Brother Amin Abdul Aziz and Imams Muhammad Abdur-Razzaq Miller and Yahya A. Latif — fan out across the region to spots affording the best view of the ascendant silver sliver.

— kristin e. holmes, Philly.com, "Muslims look to new moon for start of Ramadan, but few saw it this year," 16 May 2018
The survey includes only broadcast series, whose fates are sealed in an annual spring ritual.

— gary levin, USA TODAY, "Save Our Shows 2018: Fans pick 'Timeless' (again) as TV's most-wanted endangered series," 2 May 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