ritual

[ rich-oo-uhl ]
/ ˈrɪtʃ u əl /

noun

adjective

of the nature of or practiced as a rite or ritual: a ritual dance.
of or relating to rites or ritual: ritual laws.

Origin of ritual

1560–70; < Latin rītuālis, equivalent to rītu-, stem of rītus rite + -ālis -al1

synonym study for ritual

1. See ceremony.

OTHER WORDS FROM ritual

Example sentences from the Web for ritual

British Dictionary definitions for ritual

ritual
/ (ˈrɪtjʊəl) /

noun

the prescribed or established form of a religious or other ceremony
such prescribed forms in general or collectively
stereotyped activity or behaviour
psychol any repetitive behaviour, such as hand-washing, performed by a person with a compulsive personality disorder
any formal act, institution, or procedure that is followed consistently the ritual of the law

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of religious, social, or other rituals

Derived forms of ritual

ritually, adverb

Word Origin for ritual

C16: from Latin rītuālis, from rītus rite

Medical definitions for ritual

ritual
[ rĭchōō-əl ]

n.

A detailed act or series of acts carried out by an individual to relieve anxiety or to forestall the development of anxiety.