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ritualism

[ rich-oo-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

  1. adherence to or insistence on ritual.
  2. the study of ritual practices or religious rites.
  3. excessive fondness for ritual.


ritualism

/ ˈrɪtjʊəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. emphasis, esp exaggerated emphasis, on the importance of rites and ceremonies
  2. the study of rites and ceremonies, esp magical or religious ones
“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


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Derived Forms

  • ˈritualist, noun
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Other Words From

  • ritu·al·istic adjective
  • ritu·al·isti·cal·ly adverb
  • anti·ritu·al·ism noun
  • anti·ritu·al·istic adjective
  • hyper·ritu·al·ism noun
  • hyper·ritu·a·listic adjective
  • nonrit·u·al·istic adjective
  • nonrit·u·al·isti·cal·ly adverb
  • unrit·u·al·istic adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ritualism1

First recorded in 1835–45; ritual + -ism
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Example Sentences

Like the Mosaic Law, under the sedulous care of the sacerdotal orders it ripened into a most burdensome ritualism.

As faith in the gods declined, ceremonies and pomps were multiplied, and the ice of ritualism accumulated on the banks of piety.

He rejected the superstitions of his country, and looked upon the ritualism of religion as a mere fashion.

In regard to the worship of God, Calvin was opposed to splendid churches, and to all ritualism.

But Yahwism, like Islam, had its sects and tendencies, and the opponents to the stricter ritualism always had followers.

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ritual bathritualist