ritual
[noun]
Synonyms:
- ceremony, observance, rite
- custom, convention, habit, practice, procedure, protocol, routine, tradition
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- ceremonial, conventional, customary, habitual, routine

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. rit‧u‧al¹ /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ noun [uncountable and countable]

1. a ceremony that is always performed in the same way, in order to mark an important religious or social occasion ⇒ rite:
ancient pagan rituals
the importance of religion and ritual in our lives
The lady of the house performs the sacred ritual of lighting two candles.

2. something that you do regularly and in the same way each time ⇒ routine
ritual of
the daily ritual of mealtimes
He went through the ritual of lighting his cigar.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. ritual² adjective [only before noun]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ritualis, from ritus; ⇒ rite]

1. done as part of a rite or ritual:
ritual dances

2. done in a fixed and expected way, but without real meaning or sincerity:
The police issued the usual ritual apology.
—ritually adverb:
Animals are brought in and ritually slaughtered.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ritual
noun
ADJ. ancient, primitive | daily, nightly, Sunday, etc. | little A cognac before bed is one of our little nightly rituals.
elaborate, solemn | empty Bargaining at the markets is now just an empty ritual.
religious, social | pagan | courtship, fertility, initiation, mating
VERB + RITUAL go through, perform She had to go through the ritual of kissing the toys before her son would go to sleep. rituals performed by druids at Stonehenge on Midsummer's Day
make She makes an elaborate ritual of the washing-up.
RITUAL + VERB take place
RITUAL + NOUN practice the ritual practices of ancient religions
murder, sacrifice, slaughter the accusation that they practised ritual murder
PREP. in a/the ~ Women's roles in the rituals of many religions have been limited.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲