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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of rite of passage

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

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

Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure will open at the Southern California Railway Museum this summer for guests to experience the Wizarding World rite of passage aboard a real moving train in the Inland Empire.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

The 40-day mourning period following a death is an important rite of passage for Muslims.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Besides, being broke and having to pinch pennies in college is a rite of passage, right?

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

I’ll be the youngest person on the Ranch to go through the rite of passage, and it’s like people are starting to actually see me now.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy