noun
ritual
RIHCH-oo-uhl
noun
1
A set sequence of actions performed regularly, often with symbolic or religious meaning.
"The morning coffee had become a ritual he never skipped."
"The priest led the congregation through the ritual."
adj
1
Relating to, or done as part of, a rite or fixed ceremony.
"Ritual dances marked the start of the harvest festival."
How to Use Ritual
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fixed, often symbolic routine — can be religious or just a personal habit repeated the same way each time.
Common pairings
daily ritual
ritual sacrifice
ritual behaviour
Word Forms
more ritual comparative, rituals plural, most ritual superlative
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The morning coffee had become a _____ he never skipped.
Etymology
From Latin rituālis, itself built from ritus ("rite") plus the adjective ending "-alis."