Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

rite of passage

American  

noun

  1. Anthropology. a ceremony performed to facilitate or mark a person's change of status upon any of several highly important occasions, as at the onset of puberty or upon entry into marriage or into a clan.

  2. any important act or event that serves to mark a passage from one stage of life to another.


rite of passage British  
/ rit də pɑsaʒ /

noun

  1. a ceremony performed in some cultures at times when an individual changes his status, as at puberty and marriage

  2. a significant event in a transitional period of someone's life

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rite of passage

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

The stores sell dresses for proms, special occasions and quinceañeras, a Latin American rite of passage celebrating a young girl’s 15th birthday and her transition to adulthood.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

It was a wistful and exciting moment, a rite of passage for many privileged middle-class parents around this time of year.

From Salon • May 31, 2026

Succinctly describe a time, place and activity that affected you: a rite of passage, a pivotal career move, a tragedy or unexpected turn of events.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Lindblad's so new to the sport that he hasn't even taken part in what's become a rite of passage for F1 drivers – introducing himself to the Drive to Survive cameras.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Stated positively, they believed that learning is a social activity; learning is a rite of passage into the group.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "rite of passage" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com