ritual

1 of 2

adjective

rit·​u·​al ˈri-chə-wəl 

-chəl;

ˈrich-wəl

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

ritual

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of ritual

Noun

• habit
• practice
• trick
• custom
• way
• routine

Examples of ritual in a Sentence

Noun

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 on the Web

Adjective

Nick Nightengale is blindfolded at the keyboard in the ritual hall, then escorted past nude dancers — he’s not directly involved with the sex acts that Bill moves through. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025

His win caps a meteoric rise within the sport, dictated by ritual and tradition, in the three years since the 21-year-old arrived in Japan as war ravaged his home country. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025

Noun

Thankfulness needs to become a daily ritual, one that transforms not just your mood, but your brain and body. —Dr. Daniel Amen, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

Vettä Nordic Spa in Ontario offers a Finnish spa experience, while Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort on Prince Edward Island and Oceanstone’s Hydrothermal Nordic Spa in Nova Scotia deliver treatments inspired by Scandinavian ritual. —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin ritualis, from ritus rite

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ritual

• habitual

Kids Definition

ritual

1 of 2 adjective

rit·​u·​al ˈrich(ə-)wəl 

ˈrich-əl

1

: of or relating to rites or a ritual

a ritual dance

2

: according to religious law or social custom

ritually

-ē

adverb

ritual

2 of 2 noun

1

: an established form for a ceremony

2

a

: a system of rites

b

: a ceremonial act or action

c

: a formal and customarily repeated act or series of acts

Medical Definition

ritual

noun

rit·​u·​al ˈrich-(ə-)wəl 

: any act or practice regularly repeated in a set precise manner for relief of anxiety

obsessive-compulsive rituals