ritual

1 of 2

adjective

rit·​u·​al ˈri-chə-wəl How to pronounce ritual (audio)
-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

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
On the same night, everywhere in the world where there are Jews, the ritual meal takes place, though the food and flavors differ according to the local culture. Kate Maxwell Lindsey Tramuta Reggie Nadelson Gisela Williams Roxanne Fequiere Siska Lyssens, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 But the best scalp massagers—small, ergonomically shaped tools intended to reach through strands and knead the scalp—can make a DIY ritual simple and accessible but no less comforting, with benefits for both the scalp and hair to be had as a result. Deanna Pai, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2024 On its face, the reëlection of Vladimir Putin as Russia’s President seems a superfluous oddity, a ritual devoid of substance. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2024 Alan Wake is about the titular writer returning from an otherworldly prison and joining Saga Anderson to investigate ritual murders. Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 Their findings, published this month in the journal Antiquity, mark the earliest physical evidence of ritual practices involving tobacco in Mesoamerica. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 And part of that is ritual; part of that is just the distance between places and the way people move. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Elodie is really just a ritual sacrifice, a token peace offering to the local dragon. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Twice a year, every year, the ritual returns as literal clockwork: the start and end of daylight saving time. Diba Mohtasham, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Two other patients did nasal rinsing as part of a cleansing ritual that is part of Indian tradition. CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024 Alongside this, recitations, songs, sacred prayers, and various other rituals and practices are observed. Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 My father, a minister, lauded sleep as a nightly sacred ritual that restored our physical and mental well-being. Barbara Rhoden, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 The march in Mexico City has become an almost sacred ritual for thousands of young people across the country, and, for the young Ayotzis, their search for transportation must have felt heroic: ¡Dos de octubre no se olvida! Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Building a ritual around a product involves meticulous planning. Nicole Dunn, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Reflecting on her own routine, Allison highlighted the significance of maintaining everyday rituals regardless of life's challenges. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 Reyna Nieto, 42, wasn’t taken by surprise Thursday; for her, it’s become a familiar ritual. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Bathing, as well as being a relaxing ritual in itself, is a great way to raise body temperature and in turn kick-start the body’s circadian rhythm to get it back on a more regular footing. Georgia Day, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ritual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ritual was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near ritual

Cite this Entry

“Ritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ritual. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ritual

1 of 2 adjective
rit·​u·​al ˈrich(ə-)wəl How to pronounce ritual (audio)
ˈrich-əl
1
: of or relating to rites or a ritual
a ritual dance
2
: according to religious law or social custom
ritually
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 How to pronounce ritual (audio)
: any act or practice regularly repeated in a set precise manner for relief of anxiety
obsessive-compulsive rituals

More from Merriam-Webster on ritual

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