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

Age is a rite of passage marked in many cultures through ritual and rite. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 13 Dec. 2025

In their analysis, the researchers argue that the stones’ placement and the immense effort required to move them indicate not just deliberate design, but a deeper ritual significance. —New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2025

Noun

For these 10 members of Rolling Stone Culture Council, staying cool under pressure is all about developing rituals, habits and mental frameworks that create clarity when everything else feels chaotic. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2025

Both for its negative take on Yuletide rituals and for its sorry attempt to save on production costs, the ad was so poorly received that the company decided to pull it. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 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