noun, adjective
noun [C,U]
1 a series of actions that are always carried out in the same way, especially as part of a religious ceremony:
religious / pagan rituals * She objects to the ritual of organized religion.
2 something that is done regularly and always in the same way:
Sunday lunch with the in-laws has become something of a ritual.
adjective [onlybeforenoun]
1 done as part of a ritual or ceremony:
ritual chanting / practices
2 always done or said in the same way, especially when this is not sincere:
ritual expressions of sympathy
ritually adverb:
The goat was ritually slaughtered.
