rite

noun

1
a
: a prescribed form or manner governing the words or actions for a ceremony
b
: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches
2
: a ceremonial act or action
initiation rites
3
: a division of the Christian church using a distinctive liturgy

Examples of rite in a Sentence

Incense is often burned in their religious rites. the annual summer rite of loading up the car for the big family vacation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The congregation had stabilized after years of shrinking, boosted by the growing appeal of Orthodoxy’s religiously conservative rites and beliefs, and by the establishment of a religious outreach mission targeting the surrounding Hispanic community. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025 Corn is not only a staple food, but also a precious element in pre-Columbian rites that endures today. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 Multiple other studies have shown that cannibalism was relatively common among Magdalenian people, both as a funerary rite and as a form of violence. Issy Ronald, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025 Thursday concludes six days of national rites that began in Plains, Georgia, where Carter was born in 1924, lived most of his life and died after 22 months in hospice care. Bill Barrow, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rite

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin ritus; akin to Greek arithmos number — more at arithmetic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rite was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Rite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

rite

noun
1
a
: a fixed form for a ceremony
b
: the ceremonial practices of a church or group of churches
2
: a ceremonial act or action

More from Merriam-Webster on rite

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