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

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

For those who observe this tradition, many will bring along offerings of flowers, fruits, or candles, symbols of continuity between past and present, but Paige Curtin, spell specialist at HausWitch Home + Healing in Salem, Massachusetts, suggests a way to make this ritual even more personal. —Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025

The production reminds us that theater, stripped of spectacle, can be the richest ritual playground. —Essence, 17 Sep. 2025

Noun

For Haneline, small rituals keep both roles intact. —Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Virgo energy is about the small steps, the daily rituals, the grounding habits that make big dreams sustainable. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Sep. 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