ritualization

American  

[rich-oo-uh-luh-zey-shuhn] / ˌrɪtʃ u ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of ritualizing.

2. Ethology. the alteration of a behavior pattern, as by a change in intensity, in a way that increases its effectiveness as a signal to other members of the species.

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Etymology

Origin of ritualization

First recorded in 1930–35; ritualize + -ation

Example Sentences

This ritualization offers a rebuttal to our modern age where weather is practically irrelevant; as Ms. Kondo puts it, “today, I can’t help but feel that nature and humanity live out increasingly separate timelines.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

There’s all this science and ritualization that goes into it that I found really helpful.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2023

In his book Death Foretold, Christakis calls this “the ritualization of optimism,” arguing that the difficulty of prognosis causes most doctors to shirk difficult conversations around end-of-life planning.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2017

Earlier in the week, this excellent choir, founded in 1925, had shown extraordinary personal commitment and textual nuance in Peter Sellars’s heart-wrenching ritualization of Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” at the Park Avenue Armory.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2014

Fishing appears to be far less subject to ritualization among the Washo than was hunting.

From Washo Religion by Downs, James F.