rite

American  

[rahyt] / raɪt /

noun

1. a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious or other solemn use.

   rites of baptism; sacrificial rites.

   Synonyms:

   usage, form, observance

2. a particular form or system of religious or other ceremonial practice.

   the Roman rite.

3. (often initial capital letter) a liturgy or liturgical system, especially one of the historical versions of the Eucharistic service.

   the Anglican Rite.

4. (sometimes initial capital letter) a division or differentiation of churches based on liturgical practice.

5. any customary observance or practice.

   the rite of afternoon tea.

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rite British  

/ raɪt /

noun

1. a formal act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious ceremonies

   fertility rites

   the rite of baptism

2. a particular body of such acts or procedures, esp of a particular Christian Church

   the Latin rite

3. a Christian Church

   the Greek rite

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Related Words

See ceremony.

Other Word Forms

• riteless adjective
• ritelessness noun

Etymology

Origin of rite

1275–1325; Middle English (< Old French rit ( e )) < Latin rītus

Example Sentences

Unlike Torak, who’d been nervous about performing so important a rite, Wolf had seemed unimpressed: merely impatient for it to be over.

From Literature

It is a status symbol, rite of passage and phantom limb wrapped into one.

From The Wall Street Journal

Unlike the Hajj, which has fixed dates once a year, the Umrah can be performed at any time and involves a shorter set of religious rites.

From BBC

For a people nicknamed after a flightless bird, taking off overseas has somewhat ironically become a rite of passage for many New Zealanders.

From BBC

Currently, learning to tie a tie for secondary school is almost a rite of passage in the UK.

From BBC

Related Words

• celebration
• custom
• formality
• liturgy
• observance
• occasion
• procedure
• ritual