ritual
RICH-oo-uhl
/ˈrɪtʃuəl/
A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.
Can be sacred or secular (like a morning coffee ritual), but always implies a fixed sequence.
The story behind the word. Rooted in the Latin 'ritus,' which referred specifically to religious ceremonies. It has since expanded to include any repetitive, meaningful action.
Word relationships
- rite: A rite is a specific ceremony; ritual can refer to the ceremony or the general practice of performing them.
Commonly confused with
- routine: A routine is for efficiency; a ritual is for meaning or significance.
Word family
- ritualistic (adjective): relating to or characteristic of rituals
Collocations
- daily ritual
- sacred ritual
- ritual sacrifice
Example sentences
- "Ritual is the way you carry the presence of the sacred." Sociology
Memory hook
Ritual = Right Way (doing things the 'right' or prescribed way). Meaning in repetition.
When not to use
Don't use for a random, one-off action.
Fun facts
- Anthropologists argue that rituals are essential for creating social bonds in human communities.
Related words
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