rite
Americannoun
-
rites
plural
-
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
-
a particular form or system of religious or other ceremonial practice.
the Roman rite.
-
(often initial capital letter) a liturgy or liturgical system, especially one of the historical versions of the Eucharistic service.
the Anglican Rite.
-
(sometimes initial capital letter) a division or differentiation of churches based on liturgical practice.
-
any customary observance or practice.
the rite of afternoon tea.
noun
-
a formal act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious ceremonies
fertility rites
the rite of baptism
-
a particular body of such acts or procedures, esp of a particular Christian Church
the Latin rite
-
a Christian Church
the Greek rite
Synonym Usage
See ceremony.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of rite
1275–1325; Middle English (< Old French rit ( e )) < Latin rītus
Explanation
A rite is a ceremony or event that leads to a new phase of life, like high school graduation or a bat mitzvah. Rites are rituals. Religions in particular have many rites, which include celebrations and sacraments such as baptism or confession. But people also use this word for any kind of event that signifies moving through a stage of life. For a football player, getting your first touchdown is a "rite of passage." Even a job interview could be considered a rite — it's a traditional ritual, something everyone has to go through before landing a first job.
Vocabulary lists containing rite
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Attending university has traditionally been a rite of passage that involves moving away from home and transitioning into an independent life.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
TELLURIDE, Colo. — Standing ovations at film festivals are a rite: part appreciation, part obligation, part a need to stretch your legs after sitting for a couple of hours.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
College student Zara Hawkins, 17, agrees attending feels like a rite of passage for teenagers in the UK, and she is "really excited" for her first time at Leeds Festival.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
For Ally Chiu, 27, a premium credit card was a rite of passage into adulthood.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Hey, watch out,” Jones called, violating the sanctity of the rite.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Gormlie said swimming and diving are local rites of passage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Life is measured in mileposts, a steady progression through the rites of passage that delineate the mortal journey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
After days of searching shelters and mortuaries, relatives of some of the missing lost hope and began conducting last rites.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Funeral rites involving contact with the deceased have played a major role in the spread of Ebola during previous outbreaks, making safe burials a key way of limiting further spread of the disease.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
And these carried with them their native spice and fabric, rites, contagion.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
